About Blank Street
At Blank Street, we believe that rituals matter and that great rituals make your life better. With coffee shops across the US and UK, we are working to transform the high street grab-and-go coffee transaction into an experience that is higher in quality, hospitality, and joy.
Our Values
- Magic is in the Details: We value attention to detail in everything we do. We're always thinking about the small things that make a moment meaningful.
- Move as One: We value people who strive to be the best team player, not individual stars.
- “My Home is Your Home” Hospitality: We look for individuals who treat others the same way they'd treat a guest in their home. We care about presentation, hospitality, and having fun even when things are stressful.
What's Brewing...
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Culinary Director to lead the development of pastry, food, and flavours in the UK. This role is critical in shaping the culinary direction of Blank Street, ensuring our menu is aligned with our brand values and sets a new standard in quality and innovation. The Culinary Director's primary responsibility will be leading the entire pastry and food program, from conceptualising and creating innovative food products to overseeing production, whether in-house or through external partners.
In this role, you will be the driving force behind our food strategy. You will provide clear guidance on the best production methods for our diverse offerings and work closely with our design and construction teams to design a central production kitchen tailored to our unique needs. Your expertise will blend creativity with operational excellence, ensuring that our food offerings are both innovative and impeccably executed.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the Food Program Vision and Strategy:
- Vision Development: Collaborate with the Managing Director (MD) and CEO to develop and articulate a clear and compelling vision for our pastry & food menu that aligns with our brand identity and customer expectations.
- Strategic Execution: Transform this vision into a detailed strategy, overseeing all aspects of menu development, food production, and vendor partnerships to ensure high standards and alignment with our business goals.
- Production Guidance: Provide expert advice on the balance between in-house and third-party production, ensuring each product is produced in the most efficient and quality-focused manner.
- Manage Food Production End-to-End :
- Kitchen Design: Collaborate with our design and construction teams to develop a central production kitchen that meets our specific operational needs and sets the stage for future growth.
- In-House Operations: Oversee the operation of our production kitchen, managing a team and ensuring that all processes run smoothly, efficiently, and in compliance with health and safety standards.
- External Partnerships: Manage relationships with external food producers and suppliers, ensuring that all outsourced products meet our quality standards and are delivered on time.
- Quality Control: Implement rigorous quality control measures across all stages of food production to maintain consistency and excellence in our offerings.
- Continuously Improve and Evolve Existing Offerings:
- Performance Monitoring: Collaborate with our teams to understand sales, customer feedback, and operational performance of existing products, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing changes to enhance taste, presentation, and overall customer satisfaction.
- Quality Enhancement: Regularly assess and refine our current menu items, including pastries, breakfast items, and grab & go options, to ensure they meet the highest quality standards and exceed customer expectations.
- Supplier Collaboration: Work closely with suppliers to source the best ingredients and maintain a consistent product quality, while exploring opportunities for cost optimisation and sustainability.
- Develop New and Innovative Food Product Lines:
- Customer & Brand Centric Innovation: Work closely with Marketing & Strategy, using customer feedback and industry insights to create new food products that resonate with our customers and differentiate our brand in the market.
- Innovation Pipeline: Develop and maintain a pipeline of innovative food concepts, ensuring a steady flow of new ideas and products that can be tested and rolled out across our stores
- Trend Integration: Stay ahead of the latest food trends, particularly in pastries, to ensure our offerings are always fresh, exciting, and relevant.
- F&B Thought and Cultural Leader:
- Cultural Leadership: Serve as the product thought leader within the organisation, inspiring and mentoring the team with your passion, knowledge, and expertise in the food industry.
- Team Building: Lead and develop a high-performing culinary team, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence.
- Brand Ambassador: Act as the face of our food program, engaging with customers to gather feedback, share insights, and promote our food offerings.
Qualifications & Skillset:
- Culinary Expertise (Pastries Focused): 10+ years of UK food industry experience with classical culinary training. Specialization in patisserie is preferred, with proven excellence in baking.
- Technical Execution & Kitchen Management: Strong experience in designing, hiring, and running kitchens. Skilled in recipe costing, production management, and kitchen layouts for efficiency and high-quality output.
- Food Production, R&D & Scaling: Expertise in managing both in-house and outsourced production. Capable of scaling operations, with an understanding of supply chain, logistics, and inventory impacts on R&D.
- Organised & Detail-Oriented: Highly organised, with a disciplined, process-driven approach to kitchen management. Known for creating structure and maintaining efficiency.
- Leadership & Working Style: Respected leader who fosters a positive, respectful kitchen environment. Clear, effective communicator with a methodical, non-chaotic style.
- Innovation & Menu Development: Skilled in menu planning and creating successful products, balancing creativity with operational feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
- Self-Motivation & Independence: Proactive and self-driven, able to lead projects independently while consistently improving culinary offerings.
- Brand Passion & Culture Fit: High energy, with a passion for food and strong alignment to Blank Street Coffee’s vision and culture.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and equity offering
- Private medical care
- Discounted gym access
- Blank Street Regulars Membership
- A whole lot of Blank Street merch and coffee
