NPD/Process/R&D.
NPD and R&D teams develop and refine products from concept through to launch. Process development teams improve formulations, production methods and scalability to deliver consistent, efficient and compliant manufacturing.
Driving Innovation in Food & Drink
New Product Development (NPD) and R&D teams play a pivotal role in the food and drink manufacturing by driving innovation, differentiation and long term growth. In In a market shaped by evolving consumer tastes, health trends and sustainability demands, strong NPD and R&D teams transform insights into commercially viable products that meet changing expectations while maintaining quality, safety and cost efficiency
NPD in food manufacturing is a unique discipline.
It requires a balance of:
- Culinary creativity
- Commercial awareness
- Retailer understanding
- Technical compliance knowledge
- Factory feasibility expertise
- Project management precision
We understand the difference between a chef-led innovation role and a retailer-facing development position. We know what it takes to launch in chilled versus ambient. And we understand how NPD must work cross-functionally with Technical, Operations and Supply Chain to land products successfully.
Permanent & Interim NPD Recruitment
We take a consultative approach to permanent NPD hires.
We look beyond the job description to understand:
- Your customer base (retailer, branded, foodservice)
- Category positioning
- Innovation maturity
- Speed-to-market expectations
- Commercial targets
- Cultural dynamics within the factory
We proactively approach high-performing development professionals within food manufacturing - not just active job seekers.
Why is NPD important?
Food manufacturing is evolving rapidly:
- Health and HFSS reformulation
- Sustainability and packaging innovation
- Cost engineering and margin pressure
- Retailer differentiation
- Premiumisation vs value-tier strategy
- Shorter product life cycles
Your NPD team sits at the centre of all of it.
The right hire doesn’t just develop products, they:
- Translate trends into viable SKUs
- Protect margin during reformulation
- Improve launch success rates
- Strengthen retailer relationships
- Reduce factory disruption
Hiring incorrectly, however, can lead to failed launches, commercial friction and wasted resource.
That’s why sector expertise matters.
NPD/Process Roles we recruit:
We recruit across the full NPD lifecycle, from concept through to launch.
Development & Innovation
- Development Technologist
- Senior Development Technologist
- NPD Technologist
- NPD Manager
- Head of NPD
- Head of Innovation
- Innovation Director
Process Development
- Process Technologist
- Process Development Manager
- Process Manager
Culinary & Concept Roles
- Development Chef
- Executive Development Chef
- Concept Development Manager
Project & Commercial Interface
- NPD Project Manager
- Stage & Gate Manager
- Customer Development Manager
- Retailer-Facing NPD Manager
Interim NPD Professionals
We also supply interim specialists for:
- Major retailer launches
- Innovation pipeline acceleration
- Short-term development projects
- Team restructuring
- Maternity cover
- Product reformulation projects
NPD/Process Development Jobs.
Search all jobsExplore our latest market insights on all things food and drink manufacturing.
What they say.
We’re proud of the partnerships we build. Here’s what our clients and candidates say about working with us and the results we deliver.
View more testimonialsNPD Insights.
Read more insightsExplore our latest market insights on all things food and drink manufacturing.
Harnessing Consumer Feedback to Drive Product Innovation
How Food Manufacturing Will Shape Up in 2026 The UK food and drink manufacturing industry shows no signs of slowing down in 2026. Last year, we saw numerous leadership changes, industry consolidation and some great investments and innovation. And this year, we suspect the pace of change will be accelerating. With rapid advances in technology, evolving consumer expectations, ongoing supply chain pressures and tighter margins, manufacturers are being challenged to do far more than simply stand still. Success now depends on being agile, forward-thinking and ready to adapt quickly. At True North Talent, we’re in constant conversation with industry leaders, hiring managers and professionals across the sector. That gives us a real, on-the-ground view of how the landscape is shifting - and what businesses need to stay competitive in the years ahead. Harnessing Consumer Feedback to Drive Product Innovation In food and drink manufacturing, innovation doesn’t start in the development kitchen - it starts with the consumer. With trends shifting faster than ever, the brands that succeed are the ones that listen closely, respond quickly and turn real feedback into better products. Consumer feedback is no longer a “nice to have”. It’s a powerful tool for shaping innovation and staying relevant in a crowded market. Why consumer insight matters more than ever Today’s consumers are informed, vocal and willing to share their opinions, especially online. Reviews, social media, celebrity influencers, focus groups and retailer feedback provide a constant stream of insight into what people love, what frustrates them and what they want next. Manufacturers that actively use this information can spot emerging trends early and avoid investing time and money into products that miss the mark. Turning feedback into action Collecting feedback is one thing; acting on it is another. The most successful businesses have clear processes for analysing consumer insight and feeding it directly into NPD decisions. Whether it’s adjusting flavour profiles, improving texture, refining packaging or addressing dietary needs, small changes driven by real feedback can significantly improve a product’s success in market. Collaboration between NPD, marketing and technical teams Consumer-driven innovation works best when teams collaborate. Marketing and commercial teams often sit closest to the consumer, while NPD and technical teams turn ideas into viable products. Bringing these groups together early ensures feedback is interpreted accurately and translated into solutions that are safe, scalable and commercially viable. Balancing creativity with compliance Listening to consumers doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. Food safety, allergen management, labelling and cost still matter. Strong NPD teams know how to balance consumer wants with technical feasibility and regulatory requirements. This balance is where experience really counts. The people behind successful innovation Driving innovation through consumer insight requires the right talent - people who are curious, commercially aware and confident working across functions. As consumer expectations grow, manufacturers increasingly need NPD leaders and product developers who can connect insight with execution. How True North Talent supports innovation-led businesses At True North Talent, we partner with food and drink manufacturers to build NPD and technical teams that can turn consumer feedback into winning products. From permanent hires to interim specialists who can support busy pipelines, we help businesses innovate with confidence. 👉 Because when you truly listen to consumers and have the right people to act on it, innovation becomes a lot more powerful.
Meat vs Plant
IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ THIS WEEK THAT FRESH MEAT SALES ARE RISING WHILST PLANT-BASED FALLS, ACCORDING TO NEILSENIQ. IS THIS A LONGER-TERM SHIFT IN EATING AND BUYING HABITS OR IS THIS JUST A BLIP? REASONS FOR THIS MIGHT INCLUDE: * WITH INFLATION IN GROCERY RETAIL LEVELLING, FRESH MEAT MAY OFFER A LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE TO PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES? * THERE IS PERHAPS A GROWING INTEREST ONCE AGAIN IN FRESH, NATURAL FOODS AND CONSUMERS MAY BE PREFERRING TO COOK WITH SUCH INGREDIENTS FROM SCRATCH? * FRESH MEAT MAY BE PERCEIVED AS A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE TO PROCESSED PLANT-BASED FOODS, WHICH INVARIABLY CONTAIN ADDITIVES, PRESERVATIVES AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURINGS (AND WHEAT IF YOU'RE A COELIAC!). * SOME CONSUMERS BUY LOCALLY SOURCED MEAT OR MEAT FROM SUSTAINABLE FARMS, AS THEY PERCEIVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES ARE OVERSTATED. * MEDIA ATTENTION HAS BECOME MORE CRITICAL, WITH SOME REPORTS HIGHLIGHTING ISSUES SUCH AS THE HEALTHINESS OF SOME PLANT-BASED FOODS IS THERE A REAL SHIFT IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR THAT WILL SEE CONSUMERS MOVING BACK TOWARDS FRESH MEAT, OR WILL PLANT-BASED FOODS SEE FURTHER GROWTH?
Meeting the Healthy Eating Challenge: What Manufacturers Need to Do Next”
The Future of Food: Trends, Tech, and Changing Tastes in 2025 The reason we love the UK food and drink manufacturing industry is that it is always moving and in 2025, the pace feels faster than ever. With new technology, shifting consumer demands and constant pressure to stay competitive, manufacturers are being asked to do more than just keep up. They need to be forward-thinking, agile and ready to adapt. At True North Talent, we spend our time speaking to leaders, candidates, and businesses across the industry. That means we’ve got a front-row seat to the changes shaping the sector right now. In our third article, we look at the consumer shift in healthy eating and what it means for food manufacturers. Meeting the Healthy Eating Challenge: What Manufacturers Need to Do Next” If there’s one thing shaping food and drink manufacturing right now, it’s the shift in how consumers define “healthy.” It’s no longer just about low-fat or low-sugar options; today’s shoppers are looking for products that align with a much wider view of wellbeing. We’re seeing a surge in demand for functional foods and drinks, i.e. products that offer added benefits, like gut health, immunity support or high protein content. Brands like Moju, Eat Real, This, One Living are bringing innovative products to the market and here at True North Talent, we do our utmost to sample as many of these new products as we can. Plant-based and flexitarian diets are also here to stay, but with more emphasis on taste, texture and nutritional value than ever before. People don’t just want “healthy,” they want healthy and delicious (and rightly so). There’s also the growing influence of transparency and clear labelling. Consumers want to know exactly what’s in their food, its origin and traceability and how it was made. That puts extra pressure on manufacturers to not only reformulate products but also improve packaging, communication and wide appeal. For manufacturers, this means faster NPD cycles, investment in R&D and strong collaboration between technical, marketing and supply chain teams to keep pace with consumer expectations. It’s an exciting space, but also a highly competitive one. Companies that can’t innovate quickly risk being left behind. And of course, this shift has a huge impact on recruitment. Businesses need to bring in the right people - from food technologists and NPD chefs to brand managers and nutrition experts – those who understand the consumer demands and can turn them into successful products on the shelves. At True North Talent, we help food and drink businesses connect with the innovators, problem-solvers and the specialists who make healthy product development possible, so they can stay ahead in this ever-evolving market.
Harnessing Consumer Feedback to Drive Product Innovation
How Food Manufacturing Will Shape Up in 2026 The UK food and drink manufacturing industry shows no signs of slowing down in 2026. Last year, we saw numerous leadership changes, industry consolidation and some great investments and innovation. And this year, we suspect the pace of change will be accelerating. With rapid advances in technology, evolving consumer expectations, ongoing supply chain pressures and tighter margins, manufacturers are being challenged to do far more than simply stand still. Success now depends on being agile, forward-thinking and ready to adapt quickly. At True North Talent, we’re in constant conversation with industry leaders, hiring managers and professionals across the sector. That gives us a real, on-the-ground view of how the landscape is shifting - and what businesses need to stay competitive in the years ahead. Harnessing Consumer Feedback to Drive Product Innovation In food and drink manufacturing, innovation doesn’t start in the development kitchen - it starts with the consumer. With trends shifting faster than ever, the brands that succeed are the ones that listen closely, respond quickly and turn real feedback into better products. Consumer feedback is no longer a “nice to have”. It’s a powerful tool for shaping innovation and staying relevant in a crowded market. Why consumer insight matters more than ever Today’s consumers are informed, vocal and willing to share their opinions, especially online. Reviews, social media, celebrity influencers, focus groups and retailer feedback provide a constant stream of insight into what people love, what frustrates them and what they want next. Manufacturers that actively use this information can spot emerging trends early and avoid investing time and money into products that miss the mark. Turning feedback into action Collecting feedback is one thing; acting on it is another. The most successful businesses have clear processes for analysing consumer insight and feeding it directly into NPD decisions. Whether it’s adjusting flavour profiles, improving texture, refining packaging or addressing dietary needs, small changes driven by real feedback can significantly improve a product’s success in market. Collaboration between NPD, marketing and technical teams Consumer-driven innovation works best when teams collaborate. Marketing and commercial teams often sit closest to the consumer, while NPD and technical teams turn ideas into viable products. Bringing these groups together early ensures feedback is interpreted accurately and translated into solutions that are safe, scalable and commercially viable. Balancing creativity with compliance Listening to consumers doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. Food safety, allergen management, labelling and cost still matter. Strong NPD teams know how to balance consumer wants with technical feasibility and regulatory requirements. This balance is where experience really counts. The people behind successful innovation Driving innovation through consumer insight requires the right talent - people who are curious, commercially aware and confident working across functions. As consumer expectations grow, manufacturers increasingly need NPD leaders and product developers who can connect insight with execution. How True North Talent supports innovation-led businesses At True North Talent, we partner with food and drink manufacturers to build NPD and technical teams that can turn consumer feedback into winning products. From permanent hires to interim specialists who can support busy pipelines, we help businesses innovate with confidence. 👉 Because when you truly listen to consumers and have the right people to act on it, innovation becomes a lot more powerful.
Meat vs Plant
IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ THIS WEEK THAT FRESH MEAT SALES ARE RISING WHILST PLANT-BASED FALLS, ACCORDING TO NEILSENIQ. IS THIS A LONGER-TERM SHIFT IN EATING AND BUYING HABITS OR IS THIS JUST A BLIP? REASONS FOR THIS MIGHT INCLUDE: * WITH INFLATION IN GROCERY RETAIL LEVELLING, FRESH MEAT MAY OFFER A LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE TO PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES? * THERE IS PERHAPS A GROWING INTEREST ONCE AGAIN IN FRESH, NATURAL FOODS AND CONSUMERS MAY BE PREFERRING TO COOK WITH SUCH INGREDIENTS FROM SCRATCH? * FRESH MEAT MAY BE PERCEIVED AS A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE TO PROCESSED PLANT-BASED FOODS, WHICH INVARIABLY CONTAIN ADDITIVES, PRESERVATIVES AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURINGS (AND WHEAT IF YOU'RE A COELIAC!). * SOME CONSUMERS BUY LOCALLY SOURCED MEAT OR MEAT FROM SUSTAINABLE FARMS, AS THEY PERCEIVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES ARE OVERSTATED. * MEDIA ATTENTION HAS BECOME MORE CRITICAL, WITH SOME REPORTS HIGHLIGHTING ISSUES SUCH AS THE HEALTHINESS OF SOME PLANT-BASED FOODS IS THERE A REAL SHIFT IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR THAT WILL SEE CONSUMERS MOVING BACK TOWARDS FRESH MEAT, OR WILL PLANT-BASED FOODS SEE FURTHER GROWTH?
Meeting the Healthy Eating Challenge: What Manufacturers Need to Do Next”
The Future of Food: Trends, Tech, and Changing Tastes in 2025 The reason we love the UK food and drink manufacturing industry is that it is always moving and in 2025, the pace feels faster than ever. With new technology, shifting consumer demands and constant pressure to stay competitive, manufacturers are being asked to do more than just keep up. They need to be forward-thinking, agile and ready to adapt. At True North Talent, we spend our time speaking to leaders, candidates, and businesses across the industry. That means we’ve got a front-row seat to the changes shaping the sector right now. In our third article, we look at the consumer shift in healthy eating and what it means for food manufacturers. Meeting the Healthy Eating Challenge: What Manufacturers Need to Do Next” If there’s one thing shaping food and drink manufacturing right now, it’s the shift in how consumers define “healthy.” It’s no longer just about low-fat or low-sugar options; today’s shoppers are looking for products that align with a much wider view of wellbeing. We’re seeing a surge in demand for functional foods and drinks, i.e. products that offer added benefits, like gut health, immunity support or high protein content. Brands like Moju, Eat Real, This, One Living are bringing innovative products to the market and here at True North Talent, we do our utmost to sample as many of these new products as we can. Plant-based and flexitarian diets are also here to stay, but with more emphasis on taste, texture and nutritional value than ever before. People don’t just want “healthy,” they want healthy and delicious (and rightly so). There’s also the growing influence of transparency and clear labelling. Consumers want to know exactly what’s in their food, its origin and traceability and how it was made. That puts extra pressure on manufacturers to not only reformulate products but also improve packaging, communication and wide appeal. For manufacturers, this means faster NPD cycles, investment in R&D and strong collaboration between technical, marketing and supply chain teams to keep pace with consumer expectations. It’s an exciting space, but also a highly competitive one. Companies that can’t innovate quickly risk being left behind. And of course, this shift has a huge impact on recruitment. Businesses need to bring in the right people - from food technologists and NPD chefs to brand managers and nutrition experts – those who understand the consumer demands and can turn them into successful products on the shelves. At True North Talent, we help food and drink businesses connect with the innovators, problem-solvers and the specialists who make healthy product development possible, so they can stay ahead in this ever-evolving market.
Want to know more?
If you are an NPD/Innovation or Process professional looking for a new role, or you are looking to strengthen your NPD team, please get in touch with us to find out how we can best support you.
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