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Food & Drink Recruitment Specialists - Whether you're a branded or own label manufacturer of food, drink or non-food fast moving products, you can be rest assured that we have studied and understood the processes involved to get your product from concept within the NPD department to the consumer. We have operated across all routes to market, from major multiple retailers, convenience, wholesale foodservice and many more. Contact us today.
Norwich House, 26 Horsefair Street., Leicester, Leicestershire, LE15BD
+ 8 other offices
Innova Search partner with industry leading food and drink manufacturers helping them achieve category captain status across all routes to market such as retail, wholesale, independents and food service environments. We work closely with both branded and own label manufacturers recruiting NPD Managers, NAM's, Category Managers, Marketing Managers and Buyers. Contact us today to see how we can add value to your recruitment process.
Norwich House, 26 Horsefair Street., Leicester, Leicestershire, LE15BD
+ 8 other offices
Reed are here to help you take your next step in the world of work, whatever it is. From recruiting talented individuals across 20 sectors for a permanent, temporary, or interim role; to recruiting at scale, and screening, your local recruiter have a solution that will ensure your business thrives. Alternatively, if you're looking to take the next step in your career, or break into a completely new sector, our experts can help.
Ground Floor, Suite 3, Enkalon House, 86 - 92 Regent Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 7DD
+ 62 other offices
Warehousing & Logistics, Driving, Printing, Recycling & Waste Management, Aviation, Cleaning, Admin, and Manufacturing are just some of the sectors that the recruitment agency First Call Contract Services works in. Some jobs they recruit for include Forklift Driver, Referencing Administrator, HGV 2 Refuse Driver, ADR Driver, and Catering General Assistant. The company was founded in 1996 and has offices all over the UK.
22 Belvoir Street, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 6QH
+ 14 other offices
Pay varies across production, quality, and management, with shifts and site size shaping rates, Leicester and Loughborough sites often post higher pay to cover nights or technical duties, discuss salaries and pay rates early, ask for clarity on recruitment fees and any agency costs, and agree terms for temporary, permanent, or contract work so budgets stay on track for both large plants and growing SMEs.
Hiring managers look for practical proof of skill, food hygiene certificates, HACCP training, allergen awareness, and IOSH or NEBOSH for safety leaders are common requests, recruiters and recruitment consultants will flag needed tickets at briefing stage, candidates can register with an agency and upload certificates so shortlisting moves quickly.
The county’s labour market is busy, commuter links on the M1, M69, and A46 widen the catchment, yet shift cover and weekend work still pinch, sites near Magna Park, Meridian Business Park, and Leicester Food Park compete for the same workforce, food recruitment agencies help local employers plan rotas, raise retention, and keep standby talent ready for peaks.
Leicestershire blends chilled foods, bakery, snacks, ready meals, and ingredients, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Hinckley, Market Harborough, and Loughborough each host producers and distributors, East Midlands Airport supports air freight and time-sensitive consignments, staffing agencies and employment firms with food desks know which plants are scaling and which lines need cover at short notice.
Food sites expect Level 2 food safety as a base, supervisors often step up with Level 3 and HACCP, FLT licences remain useful in intake and despatch, allergen control, traceability, and GMP refreshers keep audits smooth, temp agencies can book training blocks so candidates stay compliant and ready for site inductions.
Agencies place production operatives, machine minders, team leaders, QA technicians, NPD assistants, warehouse staff, pickers, FLT drivers, planners, engineers, and shift managers, executive search covers technical managers, operations leaders, and site heads, if you need to hire staff fast, a recruiter with pre-vetted candidates is often the quickest route to find employees.
BBQ season, Christmas ranges, and retail promotions push volumes, demand picks up for temporary staff during launches and audits, a good plan spreads availability across early, late, and night shifts, jobseekers who can commit to flexible patterns often secure repeat bookings and move into permanent work when volumes stabilise.
Entry roles can lead to line leader, QA, or planning posts, engineers progress through maintenance to reliability or projects, technical staff build toward specifications and supplier assurance, agencies with food experience map these paths and advise on training steps so candidates and businesses see clear progression.
Leicester city draws supervisory and technical talent, Loughborough and Coalville show strength in logistics and production, Melton Mowbray has heritage bakery and chilled goods, Market Harborough links well to Northamptonshire, recruiters tune adverts to each area’s travel patterns and bus and rail options so response rates improve.
Do food agencies cover both shop-floor and technical roles?
Yes, most cover production through to QA and site management.
Can we hire on a temp to perm plan?
Yes, many agencies structure temp periods before moving people onto your books.
What should we prepare before briefing a recruiter?
Share shift patterns, pay bands, site location, required tickets, and start dates.
How do jobseekers register with an agency?
Complete an online form, upload right to work, certificates, and references, then book an induction.
Are weekend shifts harder to fill?
Often yes, confirm premiums and transport options to boost response.
Food recruitment agencies in Leicestershire know the local job market and the realities on site, they brief candidates on hygiene, PPE, and line pace, they manage right to work checks and references, and they balance temporary, permanent, and contract work so your workforce stays steady, employers get practical advice on recruitment fees and agency costs, candidates get clear rates, shift times, and prospects, register with an agency that understands your process flow, allergen controls, and audit cycle, and you will save time at every hire.