Zepto - New Product Development Role

New Product Development (culinary)

Designation: Caf New Product Development Head (FnB)

Core Areas : Caf specific strategic programs/Store operations, Process Design , Team Management, Training & Development/Costing/Innovation/Quality/Food Safety and Hygiene, Knowledge of product development processes

- Excellent project and time management skills

- Sensory training and experience

Qualification : 12-15 years of experience in R & D, New Product Development, Setting of R&D Centres, Food Safety, Product introduction, Food Regulations and Quality Assurance, Degree / Diploma from Institute of Hotel Management.

Our Story :

Zepto is a fast-growing start-up that delivers groceries in 10 minutes flat through an optimized network of dark stores that we're building across the country! We're scaling up throughout Mumbai quickly and, in the next 6 months, we'll be launching in Bangalore, Delhi, Pune and Hyderabad. We're currently in deep stealth-mode, so you won't find any press about us :)

We're incredibly well-funded and our investors include Y Combinator, Nexus Venture Partners, and more! We've also built out one of the best start-up teams in India, with Senior Executives from Uber, Flipkart, Dream11 and institutions like Stanford, INSEAD, IIM, IIT, OCLD and IHM.

Your Role :

- Product development - Develop products across categories and meal periods for Zepto Cafe.

- Develop the culinary recipes and then work with the commercialization manager to jointly finalise the commercialized product within given costs.

- Ideation - Help the business work on ideas for future NPDs based on culinary exploration, competition, consumer trends, etc.

- Continuous improvement - Continuously improve the brand range of products. Look for improvements basis competition benchmarking, consumer feedback, review and rating on eComm. - Build culinary knowledge - Build knowledge on cuisines, regional taste preferences for better consumer understanding and future NPD ideas

- Support marketing - Support marketing in promoting the product by doing recipe demos (online/offline), help with recipe video shoots, photoshoots, packaging, etc

- Forming product development process.

- Indicate a strong sense of creativity, Creative development resulting in the launch of new products.

- Packaging & new raw material development in line with NPD Brief.

- Participate in brainstorm sessions to build strong bank of ideas & focus development.

- Concept development demonstrating understanding of customer policies/ brand standards.

- Support the concept teams with repeat sampling when required

- Completion of accurate recipe sheets

- Cook up & present products clearly, accurately and persuasively

- Understanding of operational capabilities.

- Understands the wants and needs of both internal and external customers

- Work with Innovation Team on group wide projects.

- Working on company briefs to deliver innovative solutions

- To develop the product specifications in consultation with the consumer insights, marketing, sales, packaging and the R&D teams.

- New concept development with application of new flavors, functional ingredients, exotic RM etc.

- Determine the need to revise food safe practices, and/or design and integrate new food safe practices into the organization's policies and procedures.

- Originate new products in concept with customer needs and business model.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT THEN?

- You'll be involved in all aspects of bringing a new product to market - from the initial concept right through to product launch.

- You'll be the key customer contact for all issues concerning the products you're working on, keeping them informed of any outcomes and making sure that all their needs are met.

- As well as new products, you'll also have responsibility for improving existing ones and will lead a team of technologists and chefs who will help you get the job done.

WHAT MIGHT I BE DOING?

- Leading the Zepto Caf New Product Development.

- Making sure that all new products are correctly costed

- Drafting and updating company New Product Development procedures and ensuring that all staff are fully compliant

- Keeping up to date with changes to legislation and new research

- Sourcing new materials and ingredients

- Interpreting new legislation and ensuring that all relevant staff are up to speed with any amendments to make sure all products are fully compliant and legal

- Ensuring all new products meet technical, price and production parameters

- Conducting nutritional research as required

- Drafting and signing off on product specifications and documentation

- Liaising with colleagues in different departments

- Taking responsibility for successful handover of product to process development staff

- Presenting new products to potential customers

What We're Looking For :

- People with endless curiosity and hunger to learn

- Owners who will think of Zepto Caf as their own venture

- Operators obsessed with customer experience