• Job Description

  Req#: 20479

  Description

  The R&D Assistant, Product Development for 1800Flowers Food Groups will assist in benchtop to commercialization development of products made in the 1-800-Flower food facilities. As part of the R&D team this person will create product prototypes, document all testing, organize samples, and prepare products for tasting and presentation.

  The ideal candidate for this role also stays informed of trends in baking, confections, snacking and gifting industry and can translate these trends into products for incremental growth.

  This role is a full-time, permanent position on our Research and Development Team. The individual in this role must be available to work additional hours and weekends during peak seasons, and on 2nd shift, as needed.

  • New Product Development
    • Assist product developers in translating ideas into prototypes.
    • Create benchtop samples as directed by product developers for all channels including e-commerce, wholesale, and intercompany.
    • Document all development
    • Other tasks as needed
    • Assists in preparing for product testing in food production.
    • Create manufacturing instructions for food production
    • Create formula/batch sheets for food production.
    • Organize product samples.
    • Shelf-life/Quality testing to establish specifications including tasting, water activity, moisture %, pH, and ship testing.
    • Other tasks as needed
  • Sensory Analysis
    • Assure all products are prepared for testing.
    • Collect results of testing including, but not limited to, data tabulation and analysis and communication of results to team and management
  • Raw Materials testing and approval.
    • Assists in testing new ingredients for cost savings and supply chain reliability.
    • Intake samples and prepare them to be tested.
    • Benchtop testing to determine feasibility
  • Interface with Food Production
    • Maintain regular and frequent contact with Warehouse, Food Production and Quality Assurance to complete R&D tasks.
  • Sample Creation
    • Assists in creating samples of products for photo, sales representation, and other
    • Organizes library of samples
    • Pulls samples to be finished
    • Preps recipes to be completed by Product Developer
    • Delivers samples to food production for packing, completing any necessary paperwork.
  • Administrative tasks
    • Maintain orderly filing storage of pertinent documentation and notes.
    • Maintains test kitchen and storage areas.
    • Cleans storage and Test Kitchen areas as needed
    • Data entry
  • Special Projects as directed

  Qualifications

  High School Diploma or the equivalent 2 years experience in professional kitchen preferred. R&D experience in bakery, candy, or snacks preferred, but not required. Entry-level position BA or BS in Food Science, Culinary Science, Chemistry, Biology or related field of study required to advance in R&D HACCP/PCQI training preferred, but not required INDCH

• About the company

  1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. is a floral and foods gift retailer and distribution company in the United States. The company's focus, except for Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, is on gift baskets, using the name 1-800-Baskets.com.

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