Food Product Development for the UK Grocery Market - Placement Programme

Salary:

£25,000 per annum.

Closing date:

12th December 2025 (this is subject to change, so please apply as soon as possible) .

Duration:

12 months, commencing July 2026.

This 12-month placement is for motivated undergraduates who want to gain experience within our Development Team, working with chefs and operational teams to bring new recipes to market. You will gain skills in critical path management, ingredient sourcing, costings, product benchmarking, and product development. Please note that this is an office-based role, not kitchen-based. There are opportunities to return to Bakkavor after you complete your degree.

This 12-month placement is for motivated undergraduates who want to gain experience within our Development Team, working with chefs and operational teams to bring new recipes to market. You will gain skills in critical path management, ingredient sourcing, costings, product benchmarking, and product development. Please note that this is an office-based role, not kitchen-based. There are opportunities to return to Bakkavor after you complete your degree. You should have:

A motivated attitude and a strong desire to progress in the food industry are the most important qualities we seek .
You must be an undergraduate currently studying a food, nutrition, or hospitality-related degree (mid-degree, not mid-masters) .
You must have experience working as part of a team .
You must have an existing right to work in the UK .
A full UK driver's license and own transport is preferred.

You will be supported by an experienced line manager who will conduct regular performance reviews and use a skills checklist to ensure your development. When you complete your degree, Bakkavor will assist in identifying the right career opportunities, including direct entry roles or positions on our Graduate or Apprentice programmes. Benefits include relocation financial assistance and access to a Bakkavor discount platform.

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Locations

You will be based at one of our hubs in either London Park Royal, Spalding (Lincolnshire), or Bo'ness (near Edinburgh).

This map shows the location of all the Bakkavor sites.

Why join Bakkavor

At Bakkavor, we have pride. And purpose. From our Icelandic origins we have grown to be the leading provider of fresh prepared food in the UK. And we continue to expand, in the US and China. Our world is fast-paced, exciting and energetic. And that’s just how we like it. We have drive. Ambition. Motivation. We are food heroes, who keep the supply chain moving despite demanding times. We work hard. We are resilient. We solve problems together. And we deliver for our customers. Our passion brings joy through the food we produce – and the communities we work in. Our values are extremely important to us, they drive the way we do business – they are what make Bakkavor different to everyone else.

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