Product Innovation & Development Manager

Company Description

H. Smith Food Group plc is one of the UK’s leading independent food service companies, specializing in fully cooked proteins. The company supplies a wide range of cooked & raw poultry, meat, seafood and vegetarian products to retail, food service, manufacturing, world foods and FTG outlets across the British Isles and Ireland.

We are looking for a driven and commercially minded Product Innovation & Development Manager to join our growing team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong experience in new product development, food trends, retail, QSR, and food-to-go to play a key role in shaping future product ranges and supporting continued business growth. The successful candidate will work closely with our supply base, client base, and technical teams to develop innovative, commercially viable products that meet market demand and customer expectations.

This role will involve using market data, trend insight, and customer feedback to identify opportunities, support product development, and help bring new ideas to life.

• Working with suppliers, customers, and internal teams to develop new and existing product ranges.
• Identifying market trends, consumer insights, and commercial opportunities across retail, QSR, and food-to-go sectors.
• Supporting the full NPD process from concept through to launch.
• Liaising with technical teams to ensure products meet required standards, specifications, and customer expectations.
• Building strong relationships with clients and supply partners.
• Travelling as required to meet customers, suppliers, and attend relevant industry events.

• Experience in NPD, product development, or food innovation within the food industry.
• Knowledge of retail, QSR, and food-to-go markets.
• A strong understanding of market trends, product positioning, and customer requirements.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A proactive, creative, and commercially focused approach.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple teams.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an established buisness in a varied, influential, and forward-thinking role.

H. Smith Food Group plc is an equal opportunities employer.