Lead the Future of Convenience Cuisine
Weigel’s is redefining what convenience food can be. Our award-winning program — recently voted #6 Best Gas Station Food in the Nation by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards — is entering its next evolution. We are searching for a visionary culinary leader to shape the future of our foodservice program, elevate our menu, and fuel one of the most exciting growth initiatives in the company’s history.
This is a top-tier opportunity for a chef and innovator who thrives at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and large-scale execution.
Position Overview
The Director of Culinary Innovation is Weigel’s chief culinary strategist. This leader drives the development, testing, and commercialization of new food concepts across all dayparts. The role focuses heavily on R&D, trendspotting, product innovation, cross-functional alignment, and scalable recipe development that works across a multi-unit retail environment.
You will take ideas from the bench to the shelf, designing products that delight guests, strengthen Weigel’s brand identity, and can be executed consistently in more than 80 stores and future commissary production.
Core Focus: Innovation and Product Development
• Strategic R&D and Culinary Trendspotting:
Develop and lead a multi-year innovation strategy. Research global food trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity and translate them into a robust product pipeline.
• Concept-to-Commercialization:
Own the entire development cycle from bench-top prototyping through multi-store rollout including recipe development, costing, packaging guidance, testing, training, and post-launch optimization.
• Menu and Platform Evolution:
Enhance existing menu categories while creating new platforms, seasonal programs, and LTO strategies that strengthen guest excitement and drive incremental sales.
• Commissary Integration:
Partner with Harvest Station Foods, Weigel’s commissary, to design recipes and processes optimized for centralized production, distribution, and scale.
• Scalability and Cost Engineering:
Ensure all recipes are operationally feasible, cost-effective, and consistent across stores and commissary environments without sacrificing culinary quality.
Operational Responsibilities
• Operational Excellence:
Refine and update SOPs, production workflows, spec sheets, and training tools to maximize consistency, speed, and quality.
• Test Kitchen Leadership:
Manage and grow the Weigel’s Test Kitchen as the company’s culinary R&D hub including equipment planning, supplier demos, and tasting sessions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Work closely with Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Category Management, and Finance to ensure seamless execution, accurate costing, and profitable product delivery. Collaborate with Marketing on menu storytelling and go-to-market planning.
• Quality Assurance and Standards:
Uphold the highest standards for food quality, safety, and presentation across a multi-unit retail environment including ServSafe and HACCP compliance.
• Store and Facility Engagement:
Visit stores regularly and partner with teams to validate execution, test new products, and ensure consistent food quality. Travel is required.
Qualifications
• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in multi-unit QSR, fast casual, grocery retail, or high-volume R&D environments
• Demonstrated success launching commercially viable products at scale
• Expertise in standardizing recipes for mass production while maintaining culinary integrity
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to validate concepts and measure ROI
• Leadership presence with the ability to coach, develop, and inspire teams
• ServSafe Manager certification required
• Experience working with commissary or centralized production environments preferred
• Experience building or leading a culinary or R&D team is a plus
Why Join Weigel’s
Influence:
You will be the culinary voice shaping the next chapter of a nationally recognized food program.
Impact:
Your work will directly inform future menu strategy, commissary production, LTO programs, and Weigel’s long-term innovation roadmap.
Growth:
This role is part of one of the most significant strategic investments in company history including a new 110,000 sq. ft. commissary that will transform Weigel’s food capabilities.
Benefits:
Competitive salary, full benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), 401(k), and paid time off.
Ready to Build the Future of Convenience Cuisine?
If you are a visionary chef who thrives on innovation, strategy, and large-scale execution, Weigel’s would love to meet you.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience in culinary innovation and scaling food programs to: kbowling@weigels.com
Weigel’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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