A homegrown brand with a diverse portfolio
Spa Esprit Group is a hospitality company that creates, owns and operates a series of timeless, thoughtful portfolio of concepts and brands, each with a unique story and a distinct perspective on the cultural-culinary landscape of the time. While each has a diverse language of its own, the properties are united by a carefully considered sense of place, purpose, pioneering design and above all, a commitment to the most awesome homegrown experiences for all who walk through the doors.
Overview:
The Beverage R&D Lead will lead the research and development, and innovation of beverage products for the company's brands, both in Singapore and regionally. This role is critical in the creation of relevant, market-leading beverages that align with the company’s strategic goals, brand values, and customer expectations. We are looking for someone that possess both a creative and strategic thinker with a deep understanding of beverage trends, consumer preferences, and the technical aspects of product development.
Job Responsibilities:
● Strategic Leadership:
Contribute to the development and execution of the beverage R&D strategy, aligned with the overall business objectives and brand positioning.
Identify and leverage market trends, consumer insights, and competitive analysis to drive innovation and product development.
Collaborate with each brands’ Marketing team to ensure that new beverage products align with each brands’ identities and target markets.
● Innovation and Product Development:
Lead the ideation, formulation, and development of new beverage products from concept to launch.
Oversee the optimisation of existing beverage products to enhance quality, taste, and customer satisfaction, where necessary.
Ensure that all products developed are aligned with the company's sustainability goals.
● Collaboration and Cross-Functional Coordination:
Work closely with the Central Kitchen, Supply-Chain, Marketing and Operations teams to ensure seamless product launches and consistent quality across all outlets.
Work in conjunction with the Barista Academy and Service Academy to ensure sufficient pre-launch and on-going training on all beverage products.
Collaborate with suppliers and external partners to source high-quality ingredients and stay ahead of industry innovations.
Work with Finance and Operations teams to assess the performance of existing beverage products and identify opportunities to make improvements
● Team Leadership:
Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the R&D team at large, as well as the beverage teams within Operations.
● Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance:
Ensure all beverage products comply with relevant food safety regulations, quality standards and health standards.
Key Tasks:
Conduct regular market research and consumer testing to identify new beverage trends and opportunities.
Oversee the documentation and standardization of all beverage recipes and processes, product specifications, ingredient lists, and production methods.
Produce prototype products for approval from key stakeholders.
Lead pilot production runs and scale-up processes for new products in collaboration with the Central Kitchen.
Manage the product development lifecycle, including ideation, prototype development, testing, and commercialization.
Coordinate with the marketing team to create compelling product campaigns and launch plans.
Conduct regular reviews of existing beverage products for performance and relevance.
Job Requirements:
Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Food & Beverage, Food Science or a related field.
Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in the Food & Beverage industry, with a track record of successful new product launches.
Strong knowledge of the coffee industry and beverage industry, including trends, consumer behavior, and regulatory requirements.
Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
Experience working in a multi-brand environment is an added advantage.