Taste Panel Co-ordinator
| Posting date: | 21 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £27,810 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 February 2026 |
| Location: | Nottingham, NG2 1LW |
| Company: | The Compleat Food Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 1583 |
Summary
Job Advert
Are you passionate about food quality, sensory evaluation, and continuous improvement? Do you enjoy being at the heart of product
integrity—from factory floor to customer plate? We’re looking for a Taste Panel Coordinator to join our Quality Assurance team at
Riverside Bakery in Nottingham, supporting the delivery of safe, consistent, and high-quality chilled food products.
Job Title: Taste Panel Coordinator
Working days: Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 17:00 with 16:00 finish on Friday
Pay: £27,810 per annum
Location: The Compleat food Group, Crossgate Drive, Nottingham, NG2 1LW
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to
create Food to Feel Good - great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.
We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio,
we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products,
continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.
With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape
the future of food for the better.
What You’ll Be Doing
As Taste Panel Coordinator, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our products meet defined sensory and quality attributes
throughout their shelf life. You’ll coordinate and lead structured taste panels, manage sensory training, support laboratory and
sampling programmes, and work closely with QA, NPD, and Commercial teams to drive quality excellence.
This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role, ideal for someone who thrives in a food manufacturing environment and enjoys
turning data and feedback into positive action.
Your day-to-day will include:
* Collect representative samples from each production run and organize and lead regular taste panels to agreed schedules.
* Ensure products are paneled at end of shelf life at set frequencies and conduct panels in a structured manner with clearly
communicated attributes.
* Train panel attendees in line with retailer and customer requirements and support customer panels and “buy-back” panels.
* Record results accurately and share clear reports with relevant stakeholders and review panel data for trends and escalate
findings for weekly complaints and quality meetings.
* React promptly to out-of-specification results, instigating investigations or placing product on hold where required.
* Adhere to microbiological, nutritional, Free From, claims, authenticity, and pesticide sampling schedules.
* Manage nutritional testing results and support investigations into OOS findings.
* Assist with raw material, WIP, and finished product testing—especially for claim-critical products.
* Maintain up-to-date QAS documentation.
* Manage stock takes and ordering of consumables (e.g. swabs, sampling kits) and raise purchase orders for testing and
consumables.
* Be an active member of the Internal Auditing Team, including process audits and support QA Manager and QA Team with audits,
investigations, and day-to-day QA activities.
What We’re Looking For
We’re after someone who’s passionate about doing things right and making a difference every day. You’ll bring:
* Essential
* Experience in a food manufacturing environment (technical or production).
* Strong organisational and planning skills.
* Confident communicator, both written and verbal.
* Positive, proactive problem-solving mindset.
* Competent in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
* Desirable Qualifications
* Food Safety Level 3
* HACCP Level 3
* Campden BRC Sensory Training
* Internal Auditing Training
* Understanding of retailer Codes of Practice and BRC standards
Why Join Us?
At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits
designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
* 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
* Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
* EV charging points - available at selected sites
Health & Wellbeing
* 24/7 access to GroceryAid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
* Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
* Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
* Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
Career Growth & Development
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards
Community & Culture
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together
* Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
* New baby gift for new parents
The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome
diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.
We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves
to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.
Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.
Recruitment Agencies:
We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or
unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition
team.
Are you passionate about food quality, sensory evaluation, and continuous improvement? Do you enjoy being at the heart of product
integrity—from factory floor to customer plate? We’re looking for a Taste Panel Coordinator to join our Quality Assurance team at
Riverside Bakery in Nottingham, supporting the delivery of safe, consistent, and high-quality chilled food products.
Job Title: Taste Panel Coordinator
Working days: Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 17:00 with 16:00 finish on Friday
Pay: £27,810 per annum
Location: The Compleat food Group, Crossgate Drive, Nottingham, NG2 1LW
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to
create Food to Feel Good - great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.
We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio,
we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products,
continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.
With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape
the future of food for the better.
What You’ll Be Doing
As Taste Panel Coordinator, you’ll play a critical role in ensuring our products meet defined sensory and quality attributes
throughout their shelf life. You’ll coordinate and lead structured taste panels, manage sensory training, support laboratory and
sampling programmes, and work closely with QA, NPD, and Commercial teams to drive quality excellence.
This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role, ideal for someone who thrives in a food manufacturing environment and enjoys
turning data and feedback into positive action.
Your day-to-day will include:
* Collect representative samples from each production run and organize and lead regular taste panels to agreed schedules.
* Ensure products are paneled at end of shelf life at set frequencies and conduct panels in a structured manner with clearly
communicated attributes.
* Train panel attendees in line with retailer and customer requirements and support customer panels and “buy-back” panels.
* Record results accurately and share clear reports with relevant stakeholders and review panel data for trends and escalate
findings for weekly complaints and quality meetings.
* React promptly to out-of-specification results, instigating investigations or placing product on hold where required.
* Adhere to microbiological, nutritional, Free From, claims, authenticity, and pesticide sampling schedules.
* Manage nutritional testing results and support investigations into OOS findings.
* Assist with raw material, WIP, and finished product testing—especially for claim-critical products.
* Maintain up-to-date QAS documentation.
* Manage stock takes and ordering of consumables (e.g. swabs, sampling kits) and raise purchase orders for testing and
consumables.
* Be an active member of the Internal Auditing Team, including process audits and support QA Manager and QA Team with audits,
investigations, and day-to-day QA activities.
What We’re Looking For
We’re after someone who’s passionate about doing things right and making a difference every day. You’ll bring:
* Essential
* Experience in a food manufacturing environment (technical or production).
* Strong organisational and planning skills.
* Confident communicator, both written and verbal.
* Positive, proactive problem-solving mindset.
* Competent in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
* Desirable Qualifications
* Food Safety Level 3
* HACCP Level 3
* Campden BRC Sensory Training
* Internal Auditing Training
* Understanding of retailer Codes of Practice and BRC standards
Why Join Us?
At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits
designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
* 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
* Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
* EV charging points - available at selected sites
Health & Wellbeing
* 24/7 access to GroceryAid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
* Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
* Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
* Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
Career Growth & Development
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards
Community & Culture
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together
* Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
* New baby gift for new parents
The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome
diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.
We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves
to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.
Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.
Recruitment Agencies:
We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or
unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition
team.