Taste Panel and Sampling Co-Ordinator - Category Development
Taste Panel and Sampling Co-Ordinator (Category Development & Quality)
Attractive Salary & Benefits
Minimum 28 hours per week, with the option to work up to 36.5 hours.
Office-based with flexible hours.
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:
The purpose of the Taste Panel Co-ordinator role is to organise and oversee internal taste panels that support product quality, development, and benchmarking activities. The role also involves sourcing competitor and market samples through structured shopping to enable effective comparison and continuous product improvement.
This position plays an important role in maintaining product standards, supporting New Product Development (NPD), and ensuring products remain competitive in terms of quality, value, and consumer appeal.
It is a key contributor to the Group’s total quality management agenda, with a particular focus on Own Brand products. The role supports the maintenance of robust testing procedures and helps uphold the company’s ‘Quality Guarantee’.
Working as Taste Panel and Sampling Co-Ordinator you will:
Taste Panel Coordination
- Plan and run taste panels, including sample preparation and participant management
- Ensure consistent testing standards and accurate result analysis
- Prepare samples in accordance with agreed protocols (blind coding, randomisation, portion control)
- Present clear insights and maintain records for trend tracking
Benchmarking & Market Analysis
- Conduct competitor shopping and identify products for comparison
- Organise benchmarking sessions and produce structured reports
- Monitor and share market trends and product developments
- Record pricing, pack formats, weight, claims, ingredients and promotional activity.
- Organise side-by-side benchmarking sessions.
Sample Management
- Source, track, and store samples from internal and external sources
- Manage receipt, storage and rotation of samples.
- Ensure product integrity (temperature control, shelf-life monitoring).
- Maintain product integrity, storage systems, and safe disposal practices
Data & Insights
- Maintain tasting and benchmarking data
- Identify trends and provide insight-led recommendations to Support technical, NPD and buying teams
- Prepare reports for stakeholders
Compliance & Food Safety
- Follow food safety, hygiene, and allergen procedures
- Support audit readiness and quality standards
Skills for Success
Joining us as Taste Panel and Sampling Co-Ordinator the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
- Minimum of 5 GCSEs, including Maths and English at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent qualifications)
- Experience within food retail, food manufacturing, or product development environments
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan and prioritise effectively
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
- Full, clean UK/EU driving licence with access to your own vehicle
The Attributes you’ll need include:
- Confident communicator with strong written reporting skills
- Excellent sensory awareness with a keen attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
- Strong data recording and accuracy
- Ability to objectively evaluate products (not just personal preference)
It is Desirable if you have:
- Previous experience working in a similar role
- ND, HND, or Degree in a food-related discipline
- Level 2 Food Hygiene certification
- Taste panel screening experience
- Cooking validation training
- Ability to analyse both qualitative and quantitative data
- Understanding of food labelling regulations and ingredient declarations
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, 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.
Full-time position offering a minimum of 28 hours per week, with the option to work up to 36.5 hours. Working hours full time equivalent will be 7:45am-3:45pm Monday to Thursday and 7:45am-2:45pm Friday. Office-based with flexible hours.
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 Monday 4th May 2026.
We are an equal opportunities employer.