Job Description

INTRODUCTION

At Community Foods, we're passionate about creating naturally delicious, wholesome snacks made from dried fruit, nuts and seeds. As a trusted supplier to the UK's leading retailers & manufacturers, we bring together culinary creativity, technical excellence and operational know-how to deliver products that delight consumers and perform brilliantly in production. We're a company that celebrates food at its most natural -- simple ingredients, crafted with care, and developed with integrity.

The Role

We're looking for an organised, proactive and food-curious Food Innovation Coordinator to support our busy Product Development and Innovation team. This is a hands-on, fast-paced role ideal for someone with a real passion for food, an eye for detail, and a desire to learn how great products are created in a manufacturing environment. You'll help coordinate all stages of the innovation process -- from trend research and sample preparation to supporting customer presentations, ingredient sourcing and updating project documentation. You'll work closely with NPD Chefs, Product Developers, Technical, Commercial and Operations teams to ensure projects run smoothly and efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

Support the Product Development and Innovation teams with day-to-day project coordination. Conduct market research, competitor reviews and trend tracking, with a focus on snacking and bakery. Assist in preparing bench samples, tasting sessions and product demos using dried fruit, nuts and seeds. Organise and maintain the development kitchen, ensuring ingredients, samples and equipment are stocked and prepared. Help prepare customer presentations, innovation lunches, samples and product concept boards. Manage the internal Gate process timelines and documentation, ensuring projects remain on track and key milestones are met. Support the sourcing and evaluation of new ingredients, flavour systems and suppliers. Work collaboratively with Technical and Operations to support trial preparation and sample requests. Maintain accurate records for recipes, formulations, specifications and packaging briefs. Assist with retail development projects, sample builds and customer submissions.

About You

Passion for food, flavour and innovation -- ideally with experience in product development. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks at once Confident communicator who enjoys collaborating across teams. Proactive, curious and eager to learn about food manufacturing and ingredients. Comfortable working hands-on in a development kitchen environment Competent with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and able to prepare professional presentations. Experience in a food business, food science, culinary or related role.

Desirable Experience

Knowledge of Nuts, Seeds & Dried fruit & snacking, bakery or cereal categories. Previous exposure to NPD, ingredients, food trends or UK retailer expectations. Culinary training, food science qualifications or product development

Why Join Us?

A fantastic opportunity to start or grow a career in food innovation and product development. Work with a passionate team shaping the future of healthy snacking and ingredients Hands-on experience with real projects supplying major UK retailers and manufacturers Be involved in every stage of the innovation journey -- from idea to product launch.

CONFIDENTIALITY

During the course of your employment, you may have access to, see or hear information of a confidential nature and you are required not to disclose such information, particularly that relating to service users and staff.

You must not make any disclosure to any unauthorised person or use any confidential information relating to the business affairs, unless expressly authorised to do so by the company.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 38,000.00-40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Company pension Cycle to work scheme Employee discount Free parking On-site parking
Work Location: In person