Job Spotlight: Aprons Research and Development Manager

Publix created its Aprons program to make cooking easier and more enjoyable for customers. It includes several components:

It’s our talented chefs in the Aprons Research and Development team that are the creative force behind the incredible recipes that define the Aprons program at Publix. Their innovation and dedication not only contribute to our success in quality food retail but also offer exciting career opportunities for culinary professionals passionate about delivering exceptional culinary experiences to our customers.

Meet Amber, Aprons Research & Development Manager.

In 2005, Amber embarked on her journey with Publix Super Markets at the Aprons Cooking School in Tampa, Florida. Her role allowed her to create diverse dishes and desserts while educating customers on meal preparation, shopping, and essential culinary skills. By 2008, she was promoted to Recipe Development Technician, where she leveraged her food science expertise to innovate and test recipes for various Publix offerings, including Simple Meals and GreenWise Market. In 2010, Amber rose to the position of Research and Recipe Development Manager, where she continues to lead and collaborate with her team, contributing to Publix’s goal of being the leading quality food retailer globally.

In her current role, Amber works closely with Recipe Development Technicians to create the incredible recipes sold in our stores. “We ideate food and trends online, in cookbooks, and on social feeds for any specific theme that’s been requested, talking out each idea and coming up with a plan, then we shop for ingredients and prepare recipes. Sometimes it only takes one try, sometimes multiple. Our goal is to craft recipes that taste good and are achievable for the home cook. We want our customers to be able to make our recipes and have them look just like the photos,” Amber says.

Amber is a dedicated Publix associate who is passionate about her role in the Culinary Services team. She leverages her expertise and experiences to contribute to Publix’s mission, making it an ideal place for career growth and development in the culinary field. ”The Culinary Services team is a small group, but the jobs we touch and the way we execute help make Publix the place to go for trusted recipes,” Amber says.

Each recipe is developed with deep thought, “Publix’s standards for quality apply to recipes too. We want our recipes to be amazing, so we’re very regimented when it comes to testing products and making sure we exceed expectations. Our job is to make sure each recipe is thoughtfully developed, carefully tested, and clearly written to make sure it will be successful when a customer makes it at home,” Amber says.

Amber is fond of her job and career path at Publix. “My favorite thing about working for Publix is the family atmosphere. Most of my family still lives in Ohio, where I grew up, so it’s great to have coworkers and friends who make work feel like family. At Publix, family is important, and they want you to take care of yourself as well. Of course, I have deadlines, but the pace is less stressful than other culinary jobs so I’m able to be creative, look into trends, and find what inspires our customers. This job touches on the art, science, and social aspects of cuisine, many of the things that originally attracted me to the culinary field—it’s not just cooking,” Amber says.

 See our aprons recipes, view our current openings, and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about a career at Publix.