Derbyshire bakery recruiting volunteer taste tester after pork pie furore
One of Derbyshire’s best-known bakery chains is looking to appoint a volunteer taste tester for developing new products, just days after facing a backlash over the supposedly declining quality of an old favourite.
Birds Bakery, which has 61 shops across the Midlands including Matlock, Alfreton, Ripley and Belper, is offering members of the public the chance to turn their love of baked goods into an honorary role until December 2026.
The successful candidate for the official product taste tester position will represent the “customer voice of Birds’ flavour future,” having their say on beloved classics like Birds’ sausage rolls to brand-new product innovations.
Managing director Jamie Bird said: “This is the ultimate opportunity for a Birds Bakery enthusiast. Customer feedback is extremely important to the business, but now we’re taking it a step further by bringing one lucky Birds customer into the heart of our product development.
“We’re excited to see who steps up to take on this role – having a sweet tooth is definitely a bonus.”
In news which may or may not be related to the vacancy, earlier this month news reports emerged of “angry pork pie fans” who were fuming over Birds’ alleged declining product standards.
Bosses denied there had been any change to the 107-year-old handmade recipe but Jamie said: “We value all feedback and are listening closely to what customers are telling us.”
Taste tester applicants do not need to have any previous experience in the food industry but must be aged 18 or over, live close to a Birds store where they can meet with the product development team, and be “passionate about flavour, tradition, and discovering new tastes.”
Anyone interested has to write a 100-word cover letter highlighting why they are fit for the role, and explaining what they love about Birds – whether it is a ‘must-have’ product you cannot live without or a cherished childhood memory of sharing Birds’ treats with family.
Applications close on Sunday, February 8, and candidates must be available for a photocall in the week commencing February 9 before a public announcement on February 16.
For full details, go to birdsbakery.com/pages/product-taste-tester.