Food Technologist Graduate 2026 – Tokai, Cape Town | New Product Development | Cape Herb & Spice

Cape Herb & Spice, one of South Africa's most iconic and award-winning spice and seasoning brands — and part of Libstar Holdings, a leading JSE-listed South African food manufacturer — is looking for a motivated Food Technologist Graduate to join their New Product Development (NPD) team at Westlake Business Park in Tokai, Cape Town.

Cape Herb & Spice is loved across South Africa and exported to over 60 countries worldwide, known for its premium quality, innovative flavour combinations, and commitment to developing on-trend food products that delight consumers at home and globally. Their NPD team sits at the creative and technical heart of this innovation — and this 6-month contract gives you direct, hands-on exposure to the full new product development process inside a world-class food manufacturing environment.

Reporting to the NPD Food Technologist, you will support technical research projects, assist with recipe testing and product tastings, and provide quality and safety-focused technical support across the department. This is an ideal first role for a recently graduated Food Technologist or Food Scientist looking to build a career in FMCG product development in Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities

Support research activities and build data across New Product Development (NPD) technical projects

Provide technical support and practical problem-solving within the NPD department

Coordinate, prepare, and assist with recipe tastings and product testing sessions

Ensure all products tested and developed are safe and meet Cape Herb & Spice quality standards

Maintain accurate documentation and data records across all NPD projects

Collaborate with the broader NPD and technical team on product innovation initiatives

Assist with regulatory and compliance checks on new product formulations where required

Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in Food Technology, Food Science, Consumer Science, or a related field (recently graduated or early-career professional)

Organised, detail-oriented, and proactive in managing multiple tasks

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

Collaborative team player who works effectively within a multidisciplinary team

Computer literate — proficient in Microsoft Office with intermediate Excel skills

Genuine passion for food, product development, and innovation