In the Kitchen with… Jack Astbury

Welcome to our latest In the Kitchen feature, where we go behind the scenes with our talented team from the foodservice division of The Compleat Food Group.

This time, we’re catching up with Jack Astbury, Product Developer, whose passion for baking began at a young age. Jack started his career after school in M&S bakery, went on to study Bakery and Patisserie at college, and has since built a career in product development. Jack now works across a diverse range of customers and categories within foodservice, helping to bring new products to life from concept through to launch.

Read on to discover how Jack progressed his career to where he is now, why Compleat is a great place to work, and which product is his favourite.

Tell us about your career so far?

“My first job was working in the in-store bakery at M&S when I was 16. I stayed there until I was 20, and during that time I completed a month-long work experience placement in product development. That experience really opened my eyes to the world of food innovation and gave me my first insight into developing products.

“M&S then referred me to Park Cakes, one of their suppliers. I spent eight years there, starting as a Home Economist and progressing to Senior Concept Technologist, working on everything from café products to retail ranges, and beginning to develop concepts from idea through to launch.

“After this, I joined Compleat because of the breadth of products and categories on offer. I’ve been here since October 2024, and it’s been great so far”.

What attracted you to a career in food?

“I’ve always loved baking and was the person baking birthday cakes for family and friends growing up. I took a lot of inspiration from The Great British Bake Off! After studying Food Technology at school and Bakery and Patisserie at college, I discovered product development and realised it was the perfect combination of creativity and food.”

Tell us about your role at Compleat?

“I work across several customers and categories, including our leading bakery brand Wrights, airline catering, ready meals and in-store bakery. It’s a varied, cross-functional role that involves working closely with different teams to develop products and ensure they perform well for both customers and consumers.

What does a typical week look like?

“A typical week involves managing a range of development projects at different stages. I might be reviewing product builds at our factory in Crewe, working with suppliers on new ingredients, attending taste panels or visiting Wrights stores to understand customer feedback. I enjoy being involved throughout the process and seeing how our food performs once they’re launched.”

Are you working on anything exciting at the moment?

“Recently, a lot of my time has been spent developing new products for the Wrights Christmas 2026 range, which is the biggest launch since I joined the business. The project has been heavily shaped by current trends, with a huge amount of planning and collaboration taking place across the team, so it’s been exciting to see it all come together. I can’t say too much just yet, but there are some great products in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled!”

Why did you decide to join Compleat?

“The variety of products was a huge draw for me. After spending much of my career in sweet bakery, I was keen to broaden my experience and work across different categories. Compleat offered exactly that opportunity, with expertise spanning everything from bakery and savoury products to ready meals and foodservice.

“I was also attracted by the scale of the business. Having the chance to visit sites across the country and work with different teams, brands and customers means there’s always something new to learn. It’s an exciting business to be part of because of its versatility and the opportunities it creates for people who want to develop their careers.”

What’s your favourite Compleat product?

“The Wrights Chocolate Flake Cake is a firm favourite of mine for a sweet treat. For savoury products, I’d have to choose the Wrights Cheese & Onion Pasty – it can’t be beaten.”

What’s your favourite thing to do outside of work?

“I’m a keen runner and recently completed my third marathon. I’m currently training for the Stoke-on-Trent Half Marathon, in support of Compleat and Wrights’ chosen charities, Macmillan Cancer Support and Dougie Mac. Running helps balance out all the pastries I get to enjoy throughout the week!”

Want to get to know more of our colleagues on the foodservice team? Let us introduce you to Lorna Watts, Lisa Gough, and Helen Mulford.