About this role
Welcome to Love's! The Food & Beverage Technologist plays a pivotal role in the Love’s Fresh Kitchen strategy, driving the creation of craveable, trend-forward products that delight guests and fuel business growth.
Job Functions:
Product Development
- Support the Love’s Fresh Kitchen team and the Manager of Food & Beverage Innovation to deliver new limited-time offers that follow current operational capabilities to drive business results.
- Design and develop innovative products tailored to guest preferences, guided by insight-driven briefs and the established innovation process.
- Ensure all products meet corporate objectives, dietary requirements, and nutritional standards.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to repurpose existing ingredients and streamline store operations.
- Partner cross-functionally to enhance product quality, packaging, and cost efficiency.
Food Safety & Quality Assurance
- Work with third-party quality assurance partners to validate product hold times and ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Support Category Management in resolving supply chain-related food safety or quality issues.
- Collaborate with the Implementation team during product validation phases.
Relationship Building
- Foster strong cross-functional collaboration and build lasting relationships across teams.
- Maintain productive partnerships with food suppliers and vendors.
- Commercialize proprietary products with vendors when needed.
Event Planning
- Lead and support product presentations for internal stakeholders and external events.
- Conduct consumer testing to validate product excellence and guest appeal.
Organization & Documentation
- Maintain lab conditions and ensure all equipment is clean and operational.
- Manage ingredient inventory and sourcing through vendors, distributors, and local retailers.
- Document recipes, specifications, and feedback using project management tools.
Adaptability & Industry Awareness
- Stay informed on industry trends, culinary techniques, and evolving dietary preferences.
- Demonstrate attention to detail, curiosity, and a proactive mindset.
- Manage multiple projects with strong prioritization and execution skills.
Compliance
- Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations and food handling/storage guidelines.
- Stay current with local, state, and federal food service regulations.
Education & Experience
- Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or a related field preferred.
- 2 years of experience in product development at a foodservice chain or manufacturer preferred.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Passion for learning and applying emerging industry trends.
Skills & Physical Demands
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; occasional bending, kneeling, stooping, climbing, and ladder use.
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
- Willingness to travel regionally and nationally as needed.
- Comfortable working in temperature extremes (e.g., walk-in coolers, ovens, fryers)
Our Culture:
Fueling customers' journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.
Love's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
Job Category: Corporate
Other facts
About Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
Founded in 1964 by Tom Love, Love’s Family of Companies is headquartered in Oklahoma City, and remains entirely family-owned and operated. With more than 600 locations in 42 states, Love’s approximate growth rate is 40 stores per year. From the first filling station in Watonga, Oklahoma, the Love’s commitment has remained the same: “Clean Places, Friendly Faces.”
Love’s was founded on the values of integrity, Customer focus, strong work ethic, innovation and perseverance. Tom Love displayed all of these as he built Love’s from the ground up – from one small filling station in western Oklahoma in 1964 to more than 550 Love’s locations coast to coast. These core values are the keys to our success. But Tom didn’t do it by himself. He surrounded himself with visionary team members who embodied the same set of values. Today, we are looking for these in every person we hire. No matter what job you do for Love’s, your commitment to integrity, Customer focus, strong work ethic, innovation and perseverance will not only continue our legacy of growth, it will also ensure your successful career with one of America’s top-ranked private companies. Do you have what it takes?
To learn more, go to www.loves.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/lovestravelstops), or follow @LovesTravelStop on Twitter.
What you'll do
- The Food & Beverage Technologist is responsible for developing innovative food products and ensuring they meet safety and quality standards. This role also involves collaborating with various teams to enhance product quality and streamline operations.
Ready to join Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores?
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