Culinary Product Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lassonde Pappas & Co. (formerly known as Summer Gardens here in Ohio), is a US Leader in beverage manufacturing dedicated to our team members, customers and consumers satisfaction. We remain committed to our small-town roots and rural values. Hardworking and caring are qualities that make our teams special. Since 1942, we’ve been producing delicious products for our customers across the country!

To provide the best for our customers, we focus on building the best team by creating and advancing an inclusive environment amongst our diverse workforces. If you’re passionate about customer satisfaction, reliable, and committed to being and doing better, join us!

We value each of our employees’ total wellbeing. To support employees in all stages of their wellness journey, we have a robust benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage options, growth and development potential, along with 401-K, Life & Disability Insurance, PTO, Tuition Reimbursement, Health Fairs, Gym Membership Discounts, and so much more!

POSITION SUMMARY

The position supports the R&D Department in product development and production scale up along with daily execution of R&D related lab activities. Evaluates current and alternative food ingredients, recipe culinary creation and sensory evaluation of prototypes to ensure to meet customer requirements. Participates in cross functional teams to ensure effective resolution of technical issues and promoting product innovation. Provides continual support to production and QA team.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development - Pre-Formulation

1. On-going research on new ingredients, applications, and processes
2. Thermal processing technical support for heat penetration studies for new/current product
3. Product Ideation and Reverse Engineering
4. Facilitate third – party lab analysis for validation on new and/or revised products
5. In-house product testing and recording for all R&D formulas
6. Raw Materials reviewed for brand specific specifications and process.
7. Maintain ServSafe certificate for food handler
8. Follow GMP’s for sanitary and processing requirements for producing safe quality food
9. Maintain all R&D equipment

Product Development - Formulation

1. Order and secure raw materials needed for formulation based on batch size and process
2. Document all imperative information on projects to include tracking recipe formulations, record cook time and temp, record average fill weight, R&D labeling and proper storage.

Product Development - Post-Formulation

1. Document revisions to recipe or process within project workbook
2. Submit approved recipe to accounting for final pricing
3. Notify team that product is available for internal review
4. Prepare samples to ship to customer or sales

Internal Tasting/Cuttings and Sensory Evaluation

Product Transferal Process

1. Final recipe submitted to R&D manager, accounting, and procurement
2. Recipe and processing entered in Vicinity with NOP submission
3. Pre-production meeting set with required individuals to include benchtop, initial production specs, and process steps
4. Accompany product for initial production run and maintains active role in first batch processing with direct communication with batch maker lead.

Production

1. Continual auditing of product category to ensure process/product integrity
2. Assist in troubleshooting areas of concern

Procurement and Quality Support

1. Facilitate a close working relationship between R&D, purchasing and/or vendor.
2. Provide guidance when sourcing a new ingredient, a replacement and/or secondary supplier.
3. Perform quarterly inspection (walk-through) for internal plant audits
4. Assist department with SOP’s related to equipment implementation or revisions
5. Certified PCQI team member to assist, practice and maintain the Food Safety/Quality Plan

Co-Manufacturing & Co-Packer Mediator

1. Travel to various manufacturers to help develop new products, evaluate products, and approve initial production runs.
2. Assist in Co-manufacturer/Co-packer validation audits
3. Provide recipe guidelines, ingredient specifications and product standards

Sales

1. Travel and attend main food shows [FFS] for brand presentations
2. Support Sales in product descriptions/talking points/recipes/photos
3. Provide sufficient samples with mock-up labels for Sales/Customer presentation

Qualifications & Skills Required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position requires sufficient physical ability to work in a typical office setting; driving a motor vehicle and occasionally working in the field.

FREQUENT: sitting, upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity and light to moderate finger pressure to include extended periods of keyboard and mouse use, side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending and stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials.

OCCASIONAL: squatting, kneeling, reach above and at shoulder height, moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20 – 35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

VISION: Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction.

HEARING: Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of the responsibilities that are required to successfully perform in this position. Other duties as assigned are part of every job description. The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential job functions.

Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.