Join a Global Coffee Powerhouse, with successful operations spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Australia, Kenangan Coffee is now expanding its footprint in India. We are seeking a R&D Assistant Manager/ Manager with a specialized focus on the Indian market. This is a high-impact role where you will lead the creation, testing, and implementation of innovative beverage and food menus, specifically driving the Limited Time Offering (LTO) pipeline to keep the brand at the forefront of the Indian coffee culture.
Working Location: Gurugram, India
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- Minimum 57 years of hands-on R&D experience in the F&B industry, specifically within coffee retail or Flavours sector.
- At least a Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Culinary Arts, or a related field.
- Deep knowledge of coffee beans, roasting profiles, extraction methods, and Certification (Q-Grader or SCA) is a significant plus.
- Proven track record of developing menus (preferably coffee) specifically for the India market. Understanding regional taste variations is critical.
- Good with numbers as this role will be responsible to look into COGS during product development.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, from kitchen concept to rollout.
- Exceptional English communication skills to collaborate with global team.
Job Role:
1. Product Innovation & Menu Engineering
- Conceptualize and develop high-quality beverage recipes, with a heavy emphasis on coffee (hot, iced, and blended) and complementary food items.
- Design and execute a robust LTO (Limited Time Offering) calendar that aligns with Indian seasonal trends, festivals, and local preferences.
- Optimize recipes for consistency, cost-effectiveness, and operational ease across multiple store formats.
2. Market Localization & Consumer Insights
- Conduct deep-dive research into the Indian palate to identify local soul flavors (e.g., specific spices, sweetness levels, and dietary habits).
- Stay ahead of competitor moves and global F&B trends to ensure Kenangan Coffee remains a market leader.
3. Technical R&D & Quality Control
- Source and evaluate local raw materials and ingredients, ensuring they meet global quality standards.
- Conduct shelf-life testing, nutritional analysis, and sensory evaluations for all new products.
- Document all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and recipes for seamless training and execution.
- Stores Audit to ensure maintenance of strict quality control standards for all coffee and beverage, food offerings, including monitoring freshness, flavour profiles, and presentation. Conduct regular taste tests and sensory evaluations to ensure product excellence.
- Address any customer complaints or quality issues promptly and effectively, striving to exceed expectations and build brand loyalty.
4. Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work closely with the Supply Chain team to manage vendor relations and ingredient procurement.
- Collaborate with Marketing to develop product stories and launch campaigns.
- Partner with the Operations team to ensure the feasibility of new menu items in a high-volume retail environment.
More about Kenangan Brands:
- Kopi Kenangan, a much loved coffee chain store with more than 900 outlets across Indonesia;
- Kenangan Coffee Malaysia with more than 140 coffee chain stores;
- Kenangan Coffee Singapore with 10 stores;
- Kenangan Coffee India launched in April 2025, 6 stores with aggressive growth plan;
- Kenangan Coffee can also be found in Australia and the Philippines; and
- Kenangan Botol, our Ready-To-Drink FMCG subsidiary.
Interested candidates please send updated resume to [Confidential Information]
