Jen Plaggemars

Research and Development Chef @Meijer

Grand Rapids, MI, US

Develop food products from concept through commercialization, ensuring they meet quality, flavor, and texture standards- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ideate and conceptualize innovative food products based on market trends, consumer feedback, and company goals- Create formulations that are scalable for mass production, including the sourcing and testing of ingredients- Work with the Meijer manufacturing facilities to ensure that all recipes and formulations can be consistently replicated on a large scale without compromising quality- Troubleshoot production issues related to consistency, flavor, texture, or shelf-life during the transition from test kitchen to full production- Utilize food processing software and systems (e.g, Genesis) to conduct nutritional analysis and develop food product labels - Collaborate with the Meijer dietitians to teach quarterly cooking classes in the Meijer Innovation Center teaching kitchen

Michigan State University

BS, Dietetics

Kendall College

Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.), Culinary Arts/Chef Training