Research & Development Chef

The job purpose of Research & Development Chef is to drive product quality and innovation for all food retail & café items and to keep the brand up in the prestige and luxury position. You will lead the product development cycle of cafe items and retail food items to support business growth across all regions; and also set up and establish cake & pastry supply operations with ensuring its product quality and compliance on related local laws & regulations. The key responsibilities are:

Key Responsibilities:

• Strike for the highest quality and innovation of food retail and café items, including providing market intelligence, competitors research, trend, and market research, covering Hong Kong, China, Japan and any other relevant markets. Key competitors would include major luxury food retail & cafe brands, premium cake & pastry boutiques and 5 Star hotels etc.
• Oversee the whole product development cycle and build product pipeline including researching, bringing in creative/on trend ideas, trial, tasting, complying with approval process etc. Establish exact recipes and photo cards, ensure distribution and compliance once approved and implemented.
• Drive strategies on product innovation, from researching, generating ideas; to design of initiatives, budgeting, and execution.
• Keep up to date on the latest market trend and innovation and provide guidance on product development direction.
• Establish PML cake & pastry supply and ensure constant standards and quality.
• Work closely with suppliers and product managers to: commercialize and launch product, initiate, and follow up on product changes, driven by seasonality, client feedback and sales engineering result.
• Review supplier’s performance in a monthly basis and conduct supplier audit at least once a year to ensure product quality.
• Explore qualified suppliers and manage supplier set up cycle – from sourcing, comparing, tendering/obtaining quotation, to approval process and set up ordering process etc, if needed.
• Drive operation excellence of café and work closely with Retail to ensure product quality standard
• Ensure product quality through reviewing production processes, providing training and supports to staff as needed.
• Drive excellent work safety and food hygiene by setting standard and standard of procedure; and to make sure these are up to the standard of HACCP and the related regulations or laws.

Requirements:

• At least 10 years of experience in pastry chef role gained in reputed brand; at least 4 years of experience in executive chef or research & development role.
• Solid experience and achievements in retail food product and menu development. Experience in managing food product operations is a must.
• Comprehensive knowledge in all technical aspects of pastry and food merchandise, including ingredients, equipment, processes, local laws & regulations etc.
• Innovative, always get on top of market trend and resourceful.
• Excellent communication skills and strong in commercial sense.
• Proficiency in computer skill.

We are delighted to receive your application for further consideration. Click apply now with your latest CV and salary information.

About Peninsula Merchandising Limited

Peninsula Merchandising first started selling cakes and chocolates in the 1950’s at The Peninsula Hong Kong. The idea behind the Peninsula Boutiques is to extend the Peninsula brand beyond the locations where we have hotels, by developing and selling a range of artisanal Peninsula branded Chinese and Western teas, chocolates and gifts. The Peninsula Mooncakes are the boutique’s most famous gourmet delicacy and they are now available at more than 30 retail locations worldwide.