Product Developer - Fresh

Why join us

Joining our Product Innovation team at Sainsbury's offers an exciting 12 month Fixed Term Opportunity to be at the forefront of bringing new trends and innovative products to market, driving our Win in Food and Next Level Sainsburys strategies. As a passionate foodie, you’ll shape and deliver the Product Plan for your sub-category, leading the development of fantastic product innovation that delights customers and enhances their experience. With a strong focus on quality, customer insight, and sustainability, you’ll help create value and make a real impact in the industry. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and suppliers, with the autonomy to drive change and pace. At Sainsbury’s, we value work–life balance and support you to thrive both professionally and personally.

What you'll do

You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams and suppliers to shape and deliver the Product Plan for your sub-category; Bought in Bakery, developing fantastic product innovation for our customers. Acting as the custodian of customer experience and quality, you’ll identify and set customer-led quality measures for all products developed, using insight from online reviews, panelling reports and customer complaints to guide decisions. You’ll utilise insights and your knowledge of trends to drive quality and distinctiveness where it matters most to our customers, while identifying new opportunities for innovation that create value within the category. You’ll create and deliver clear Product Briefs for all new and improved products, ensuring strong internal and supplier alignment on objectives and accountability for setting and managing achievable critical paths, challenging timelines where appropriate to deliver at pace. You’ll lead design briefs for new products and range refreshes, working with Design and Brand Agencies, while supporting the delivery of our Plan for Better targets through nutritional reformulation and more sustainable packaging solutions. Alongside this, you’ll collaborate with business partners across PR, Marketing, Sainsbury’s Online and Internal Communications, sharing your passion for your products with consumers and colleagues.

Who you are

You are a passionate food enthusiast who thrives on bringing new trends and innovations to the market. With your expertise in product development from the retail, manufacturing, or food service industry, you have a deep understanding of commercial awareness, cost structures, and quality management. Your ability to interpret and analyse data enables you to make data-driven decisions and identify new opportunities for innovation that deliver value in the category. With excellent communication skills and experience in project management and planning, you collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to shape and deliver the product plan, ensuring customer experience and quality are at the forefront. Your passion for your products extends beyond the development phase, as you engage with consumers and colleagues through various channels to share your enthusiasm and drive for delivering exceptional products.

Essential Criteria

• Proven current/recent experience in Fresh Food product development within the retail, manufacturing, or fresh food service industry
• Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline
• Ability to interpret and analyse data to make informed, data-driven decisions and identify new opportunities for innovation
• Excellent communication skills and experience in project management and planning, with a track record of effective collaboration across cross-functional teams.
• Commercial awareness, understanding and cost structure knowledge
• Knowledge of manufacturing & quality management principles