Product Developer

AGRANA Fruit is a global leader in delivering healthy and delicious food solutions in partnership with our valued customers. Our co-collaboration mindset results in the development of innovative products across multiple categories including refrigerated & frozen dairy bakery and food service. Our team of experts are passionate about the wonderful world of food the communities we serve and meeting the needs of consumers around the world.

Product Developer - Brecksville OH
AGRANA Fruit US Inc. is seeking a Product Developer to join our New Business Development team at our Corporate Headquarters in Brecksville OH. This role works in close collaboration with the Category Sales and Marketing manager. As an active member in the New Product Development team the job owner demonstrates creativity agility and rigor within the product commercialization process. This is a newly created position requiring knowledge and passion for food and beverage innovation with a focus on frozen dairy (ice cream sherbet novelty bars) and beverages (coffee tea and barista type products).

Product Developer Responsibilities:

• Lead development and innovation process for specific customer accounts. This involves receiving customer brief structure of the project required research formula development sample submissions risk analysis trial launches and all customer contact for project follow up.
• Market scouting trend research and benchmark analysis in cooperation with Category Sales and Marketing manager. Generate internal briefs for proactive projects. Prepare product showcases and presentations for clients.
• Prioritize and manage all product development efforts within the customer team to adequately service our customers. As key asset of customer satisfaction and aligned with sales strategy implement continuous improvement of service level in product development.
• Guarantee NPD process compliance with quality and safety guardrails and F&B regulations both internal and from customers including local and destiny markets. Support feasibility studies.
• Comply to the raw material approval process in synergistic collaboration with Procurement Specialist function to guarantee timely availability of raw materials for product brief execution and to support the development of new ingredients packaging suppliers and raw material optimization.
• Collaborate with the Pilot Plant Team (Cooks Unitizer Dispatcher) to ensure the realization of all product samples to be delivered to the customers within the requested timeframe.
• Responsible for delivering precise product trial details and to collaborate with the Commercialization Manager to guarantee accurate and on-time set up of factory trials.
• Active participation in scale up and industrial trial contributing to new process development and improvement.
• Collaborate and align with Technical Service and Production team for successful commercialization of new products.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of product development activities to key stakeholders.

Product Developer Requirements:

• BS in Food Science Food Technology Chemistry Biology
• 2-3 years of food industry product development experience
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in food technology ingredient technology and food & beverage processing.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and labelling.
• Experience in sensory analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Highly organized with strong project management skills.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skill set
• Effective communication skills for both internal and external customers the ability to collaborate create and foster relationships.
• Strategic thinker creative & curious with a customer-centric mindset.
• Strong computer skills.
• Previous SAP experience a plus

Experience in the following areas is a plus!

• Knowledge in beverage applications coffee science and/or barista training.
• Frozen dairy experience developing fruit and indulgent (chocolate caramel etc..) variegates bases and toppings.

If interested apply online at or e-mail your resume to