Head Chef - Central Production Unit | Premium Corporate Catering Central London | Contract Catering £55,000 PA | Plus Overtime Monday to Friday | 40 hours per week A leading contract catering provider is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Head Chef to lead its Central Production Unit (CPU) in London, delivering exceptional food across a portfolio of premium corporate clients. This is a fantastic opportunity for a strong operational Head Chef with previous B&I contract catering experience, and importantly, a chef who brings equally strong retail and hospitality credentials. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating across both areas - delivering modern, high-quality retail food offers at scale while also understanding the detail, presentation, and execution required for premium corporate hospitality. The successful candidate will take full ownership of a busy production kitchen responsible for preparing and delivering fresh, high-quality food for both corporate hospitality and retail offers supplied to multiple city-based B&I sites. The unit also operates a small on-site coffee shop / deli concept, serving grab-and-go breakfast, lunch, and premium takeaway items to the public. With a team of 6 chefs, this role requires a hands-on leader who can drive standards, build strong kitchen culture, and ensure exceptional consistency across all areas of production. The Role As Head Chef, you will be responsible for the full day-to-day management of the CPU operation, overseeing food production, team leadership, logistics coordination, menu delivery, and quality control across multiple food channels. This is a fast-paced but highly rewarding role, suited to a chef who enjoys structure, operational ownership, and delivering high standards at scale. Key Responsibilities Lead, manage, and develop a brigade of 6 chefs, creating a positive, high-performing kitchen culture Oversee daily food production for corporate hospitality and premium retail offers delivered to multiple B&I sites across the City Ensure consistency, quality, and presentation standards are maintained across both retail and hospitality food offers Manage the on-site deli / coffee shop offer, delivering a fresh and engaging grab-and-go retail concept Work closely with senior operational teams on menu planning, seasonal development, and retail innovation Maintain strict control of food costs, stock management, ordering, and waste reduction Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen legislation, and health & safety standards Drive operational efficiency while maintaining a strong focus on food quality and customer experience Support mobilisation of new concepts, menu launches, and business growth initiatives Candidate Profile Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within B&I contract catering Strong retail experience, with the ability to create fresh, engaging, commercially relevant food offers Strong hospitality background, with a clear understanding of premium event catering, presentation, and execution Comfortable balancing the demands of high-volume retail production and bespoke hospitality delivery Experience managing teams and running structured kitchen operations Commercially aware with strong understanding of GP, costing, stock control, and waste management Passion for fresh food, innovation, and premium customer experience Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple moving parts Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens, and kitchen compliance Calm, hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment Search is an equal opportunities recruiter and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age.

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