Position Summary :
Lo Foods is among the fastest-growing companies in the functional foods space, with 4 established brands and a strong innovation pipeline. We are seeking a Head of New Product Development (NPD) to spearhead product innovation, manage improvements in existing product lines, and drive the launch of cutting-edge nutritional products.
This role is pivotal in bringing differentiated, consumer-centric products to market at speed while ensuring regulatory compliance, quality, and commercial viability. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader with expertise across food technology, nutrition, marketing, supply chain, and sensory evaluation, along with a proven track record in scaling product innovation from ideation to market launch.
Key Innovation & Pipeline Development :
- Drive the innovation roadmap, delivering 1518 new launches over the next 1215 months.
- Lead ideation, formulation, and prototyping of functional food products with unique nutritional value propositions.
- Enhance current products through sensory upgrades, nutritional enrichment, and shelf-life improvements.
- Introduce innovative, sustainable packaging solutions aligned with consumer needs.
Nutritional Research & Market Insights :
Track global nutrition trends, emerging ingredients, and technologies for adaptation to Indian consumers.Research functional ingredients and their health benefits, translating insights into viable products.Benchmark competition and identify whitespace opportunities.Vendor & Manufacturing Partnerships :
Identify and onboard new manufacturing partners and co-packers to scale innovation.Collaborate with suppliers for sourcing novel ingredients and packaging solutions.Partner with procurement to achieve the best cost-to-quality ratio.Sensory, Quality & Compliance :
Oversee sensory evaluations (taste, texture, aroma, appearance) to ensure consumer acceptability.Ensure 100% compliance with FSSAI and global food regulations; manage documentation for product approvals, labels, and claims.Implement best practices in product specifications, SOPs, and technical documentation.Cost Optimization & Commercial Viability :
Balance innovation with profitability through cost monitoring and reduction opportunities.Partner with finance and procurement on feasibility studies, pricing, and scale-up Collaboration & Communication :Work with Marketing on product positioning, nutritional claims, and GTM strategies.Provide scientific backing and content for packaging, campaigns, and consumer education.Lead internal knowledge-sharing sessions on nutrition trends and product & Skills :Bachelors / Masters in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, or related field.8-12 years of experience in FMCG / Nutrition / Food manufacturing with direct NPD exposure.Proven success in fast-paced product launches and managing end-to-end NPD lifecycle.Hands-on knowledge of functional ingredients, clean-label formulations, sensory evaluation, and shelf-life extension.Strong understanding of FSSAI, labeling laws, and nutrition claims regulations.Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with speed and accuracy.Strong leadership, vendor management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.Why Join Lo Foods?
At Lo Foods, you will :
Build the next generation of functional food products for India.Work in an innovation-driven, high-growth environment.Have the autonomy to lead NPD across brands and categories.Play a direct role in shaping consumer health through purposeful nutrition.(ref : iimjobs.com)