Product Developer - Centurion at RCL Foods

Job Description    

• RCL FOODS is seeking a Product Developer to join our Baking Division. The role will be based in Centurion and report to the New Product Development Manager. RCL FOODS is looking for an incumbent to act as a coordinator of all new food product development activities from the concept stage to launch.

Minimum Requirements    

• Minimum of 2 years culinary experience within an established food manufacturing group.
• Experience working with a multi-cultural team.
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Able to work efficiently under pressure
• Able to overcome product failure

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Identify possible new products. This involves brainstorming ideas, discussing the product’s requirements, and determining market and overall feasibility for a particular product concept.
• Keep their ‘ears to the ground’ and speak with people, read magazines, read food blogs and watch food shows, all in an effort to understand which food products people enjoy, and where market gaps are
• Discover who’s going to buy the product and ways to make it unique. Use surveys and other research tools to focus the product concept and target goals, such as what market gap it will fill.
• Define the key elements of the new food product, such as the format, size, taste, colour, texture, and consistency.
• Develop the new food product, including the recipe, sourcing of ingredients, shelf life, packaging & manufacturing processes. Developing a new food product involves assembling and presenting samples of the product to an external customer.
• Research & Market Analysis
• Identify market niches and opportunities into which existing products could be adapted and new products developed.
• Continuously research food trends to stay ahead of consumer trends.
• Evaluate the success of new products in their markets.

Development

• Formulation of new recipes and improvement of existing recipes and packaging.
• Recommend new products and work with the NPD team to transform food concepts into viable products, This involves brainstorming ideas, discussing the product’s requirements, and determining market and overall feasibility for a particular product concept
• Conduct taste panels for proposed new products and document results
• Prepare reports and recommendations based on new food product trials.
• Coordinate shelf-life studies with the NPD Process Technologist.
• Ensure that potential new products can be manufactured profitability.

Service Management

• Liaise with suppliers to ensure that RCL Foods is aware of new ingredients coming on to the market
• Present new products to customers