Fresh Food Quality Specialist - Category Development & Quality

Fresh Food Quality Specialist

Attractive Salary & Benefits

36.5 Hour week

Newtownabbey

Who are we?

At Henderson Group, we are proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,500 staff and have been placed 5th in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2024.

We're a family-owned team that cares about our people and the community in which we live. Our leaders care about employees, and our employees succeed together and celebrate the success of others. We are interested in your aspirations, interests and skills and we strive to support and inspire you to do well.

A look into the role

Henderson Wholesale is a leading Wholesaler in Northern Ireland and supplies goods to over 500 stores across various brands such as SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO. We source from local farmers, growers and producers and are proud to contribute to our local economy and environment.

We achieved Gold accreditation against the Investors in People standard framework in 2023 in recognition of people management excellence and our commitment to investment in people.

The Purpose of the role:

Reporting to the Group Quality Assurance Manager, the purpose of this role is to work in partnership with relevant stakeholders to ensure fresh food products and suppliers’ specifications in relation to food safety, legality, quality and freshness.

This is an invaluable role in the continued development of the Group’s total quality management agenda with specific focus on fresh food.

This position will allow the successful candidate to maintain a quality management system, that focuses on delivering customer satisfaction and continuous business improvement.

Reporting to the Group Quality Assurance Manager this person will work very closely with our Quality Assurance, Trading and Operations teams.

Supporting our colleagues through training and improvement suggestions at points of receipt, put away, replenishment, picking, loading and last mile delivery. Furthermore, keeping in close contact with our Trading Managers on day-to-day basis ensuring our standards are maintained with our supply network.  

Working as Fresh Food Quality Specialist you will:

• Policing the required specification from own brand supply and receiving standards from all suppliers.
• Developing & managing with the Group Quality Assurance Manager quality conformance targets and communication of KPI metrics to the supply base.
• Analysing and challenging supplier performance against KPI’s
• Maintain a record of supplier non-conformances and corrective actions and ensure these are sufficiently investigated to prevent re-occurrence
• Complete quality inspections in the warehouse on fresh food intake and over life.
• Perform internal warehouse hygiene and GMP audits to ensure standards remain to a very high standard.
• Bench marking of product standards against specification and market equivalents.
• The role would be responsible for the follow-up of complaints with suppliers and providing customer responses on incidents where relevant.
• The role will assist where relevant on issuing alert notices on product recalls as directed.  This individual will follow up on product recalls with suppliers and internal vested parties
• Review Product shelf-life seasonally and agree changes with Suppliers where relevant
• The Fresh food Quality Specialist will be required complete supplier visits and audits where required by risk assessment or to complete investigations
• Assist the Group Quality Assurance Manager and the Compliance Co-Ordinator with adhoc duties as they arise
• Ensure Supplier approval questionnaires and specifications are kept current.
• Agree product concessions with suppliers and ensure all relevant departments are kept informed of changes.
• Investigate and respond to customer complaints thoroughly and in a prompt manner.
• The role will also include responsibility for maintenance of management information/performance reports to the Trading and Operations teams to aid problem resolution and drive continual improvement actions.

Skills for Success

Joining us as Fresh Food Quality Specialist HFL the minimum criteria you’ll need is:

• Completed a food-related ND/HND/Degree qualification, or possess a minimum of 2 years’ experience in an FMCG or warehouse environment
• Hold a valid Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate 
• Holds a full, clean UK/EU Driving License with access to your own vehicle 

The Attributes you’ll need include:

• Sound knowledge of food safety systems, including HACCP, GMP, and hygiene standards
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Competent in the use of computer systems and standard office software, including Microsoft Office
• A self-motivated individual with the ability to work independently and use their own initiative

It is Desirable if you have:

• Previous experience working with produce or short shelf-life food products
• Allergen awareness training certification
• Level 3 Food Hygiene certification
• HACCP Level 3 certification
• Level 2 Internal Audit qualification
• Previous Quality Assurance experience within a manufacturing or warehouse environment
• Previous experience in warehouse and distribution within the FMCG sector
• Experience working in a similar operational or quality-focused role
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Experience contributing to business improvement or continuous improvement projects

Are we right for you?

As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by.

Ambition – We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.

Customer First – We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.

Teamwork – We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.

Integrity – We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.

The Reward

The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business supporting defibrillator installations and school sports days. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners.

You will have the balance necessary to enjoy your job and your life. We will help you to feel proud of what you do and achieve.  And we will be here to celebrate your success.

Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment.  We value employee development and heavily invest in our people.

Benefits include market competitive salary, company car or allowance, bonus, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Reward Gateway Employee Recognition & Discount Scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more.

This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 7:45am-3:45pm Monday to Thursday and 7:45am-2:45pm Friday.

If you'd like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClelland would be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer - email joanne.mcclelland@henderson-group.com to get in touch.

*Applicants should note that we reserve the right to apply the desirable criteria if required at shortlisting stage

Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight Sunday 10th May 2026

We are an equal opportunities employer.