Npd Technologist

Refresco Drinks - Kegworth - Head Office are recruiting a New Product Development Technologist

*About you
*

Are you a creative and passionate product developer? Can you identify, evaluate and develop new products to drive business growth? Can you act as a market-driven innovator, committed to developing the best products for our UK soft drinks manufacturing business?

*What you’ll be doing
*

We are looking for a New Product Development Technologist to work on new and existing product development to deliver volume and financial budgets for our UK business.

The role includes but is not limited to:

- Working as part of our New Product Development team to deliver projects based on company priority, focusing on our branded products as well as supporting our co-pack and retailer customers
- Acting as product champion within Refresco UK
- Ensuring we are viewed by the trade as the go-to soft drink category experts
- Researching and developing commercially viable NPD to drive business & customer growth
- Improving the current range portfolio to deliver improved quality and/or profitability to deliver sustainable EPD
- Developing a clear understanding of the commercial aspects of NPD, including recipe costs, production requirements and hurdle rates to help ensure that NPD delivers to both internal and customer expectations and needs
- Ensuring all sample products produced for assessment are safe for consumption and made in a hygienic manner, in accordance with the company’s guidelines on GMP. Additionally, preparing all the necessary customer information required alongside samples
- Ensuring that raw materials are utilised which are technically acceptable for current processes; are readily available; are cost effective; are authentic; are chemically/microbiologically safe and are sourced from acceptable suppliers

*Who we’re looking for
*

We’re looking for someone bright and inquisitive who can understand a brief, work to optimise costs and develop the best, commercially viable products for our business and our customers. You’ll be int erested in the FMCG marketplace and the soft drinks sector specifically and display a keen interest in competitors, consumers & market trends.

*What you’ll get in return
*

The salary for this role is dependent on experience. We offer an annual bonus incentive and a good company pension scheme, 2x basic salary life assurance plus 25 days holiday in addition to bank holidays (with the option to purchase additional holidays) and access to a sports and social fund. Working hours are Monday - Thursday 8.30 - 5.00, Fridays 8.30 - 4.00 and free, onsite parking.

*Who we are
*

Our drinks on every table. That's the Refresco vision. We're passionate about producing tasty, refreshing drinks and we’re thirsty for more and growing fast. We’re a global business and invested £1.25 billion in expanding our manufacturing footprint to make us the largest independent bottler of soft drinks and fruit juices in the world. We currently produce 12 billion litres from 64 manufacturing plants in 12 countries and we’re only just getting started

Our UK Business has six manufacturing plants providing a great place to work for 1500 employees producing private label soft drinks and fruit juices for all the leading retailers including Tesco, ASDA, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, ALDI and Lidl. We also manufacture for branded customers such as Innocent, Ocean Spray, Weetabix, Del Monte and Um Bongo. Whether it’s packed in cartons, bottles or cans, we ensure that our products are made to the highest quality standards but they get where they need to be when they need to get there to meet the needs of our high profile customers.

L1-MB1; INDREF