Junior Development Chef (NPD)

Step out of the kitchen… but keep doing what you love. Fancy using your Chef skills in a different way? Less late nights, more creativity, and the chance to work directly with customers developing new food ideas. We’re looking for a hands-on chef who’s ready for something new - someone who still loves cooking but wants to take that next step into product development. What’s in it for you? up to £35,000 basic salary Annual team bonus Company car A proper career path outside of the kitchen Work with big customers, new food ideas, and real innovation What you’ll be doing This isn’t a desk job - you’ll still be cooking, tasting, and creating every day. Supporting the Development Chef to create new products from scratch Cooking and prepping samples for customer meetings and food shows Attend frequent customer exhibitions and showcase our brand at every opportunity Getting in front of customers and showing what you can do Working with different teams (technical, production, sales) to bring ideas to life Helping turn ideas into real, scalable recipes Being part of tastings, food trends, and new concept ideas Must be prepared to travel and overnight stays What we’re looking for A Chef with 2 to 3 years kitchen experience Someone who’s ready to move on from service but still loves food Confident personality - happy to talk to people and present ideas Willing to learn (you don’t need NPD experience - we’ll teach you) Organised, reliable, and takes pride in what they produce Full UK driving license Why this role works for chefs No more split shifts or constant weekends Still cooking—but with more creativity and less pressure A chance to build a long-term career in food, not just kitchens You’ll learn a completely new side of the industry About Middleton Food Products We are a family owned and operated business proudly manufacturing food products in the heart of the UK. One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of food service and bakery pre-mixes, providing branded and bespoke products into the largest National suppliers, restaurants, pub chains, educational authorities, and contract caterers