Irving Knight Group is an expert in Food & Beverage Ingredients executive search and selection.

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Looking to hire Ingredient Scale Up talent?

We're true experts at Ingredient Scale Up recruitment. We create an experience like no other for both client and candidate alike, and always find that needle in the haystack.

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Lucas Quadflieg

Sales Manager, Netherlands

Good vibes on finding a new opportunity... I was contacted by Aidan Kerr for a position of Sales Manager Benelux. Af...

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Moacyr Pedro

Senior Manager - Brazil

First contact I received from Henry Sears was 6 month ago and since the very beginning he seems to be a very trustful...

Website Review Photo

Keith P

Director - USA

The attention to detail and follow up were amazing. The truly distinguishing part was the complete transparency &hone...

Website Review Photo

Julian Arroyo David

Engineer - USA

Sam went above and beyond throughout the entire process. He did not just help find the right fit, he was genuinely he...

Website Review Photo

Ricardo Jesus

Commercial Manager - USA

Working with Garin was the best experience. He helped me a lot to find this position . Highly recommended

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Guillermo Leal

Global Director of Pricing, US

I've worked with a few recruiters in the past but Oliver surprised me not only for his professionalism, excellent com...

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Daniel Villanueva

Key Account Manager

Joseph is a dedicated professional and a stand up person to work with. His patience and his understanding certainly s...

Website Review Photo

Rania Metwall

Head of Sales, France

Would highly recommend working with Luca Dowdell. He helped me find the perfect job. Very professional, friendly and ...

Website Review Photo

Andrew Coutts

Director Global Strategy, US

First Class Service Emma shared details of a relevant opportunity and did a great job helping to manage lengthy nego...

Website Review Photo

Joerg Schlagmann

Senior Global Manager

Great expert: supportive, challenging and always empowered for his customers and his work! Not more to say: just exce...

Website Review Photo

Pierre D'Amours

VP Sales

I had a great experience working with Irving Knight, and especially with Lily Newton. From start to finish, Lily was ...

Website Review Photo

Michael Wilson

Senior Account Manager

Working with Joseph was a seamless and positive experience from our first contact along with the various steps of the...

Website Review Photo

Sandeep Kulshrestha

Formulation Director, US

Oliver is very good in matching skills of the candidates with the company’s requirements. I personally got benefits o...

Website Review Photo

Kerry Maye

Regional Sales Manager

Working with Joseph was a wonderfully positive experience from our first contact, through acceptance of my job offer....

Website Review Photo

Jane Scates

Packaging Engineer, US

Henry was a true professional, perfect attention to detail at every step of the process. Would definitely recommend!

Website Review Photo

Todd McBroom

District Sales Mgr, US

Great Experience!! This was my first time dealing with a recuiter and could not have been a better experience. Jack ...

Website Review Photo

Tim Mitchell

Division Plant Manager

Stewart did an amazing job representing me for a new opportunity

Website Review Photo

Brian Carpenter

VP Continous Improvement, US

Stewart was instrumental in helping me through this process and alleviating my concerns as I’ve been out of the workf...

Website Review Photo

Anja Florbach

Digital & Commercial Excellence Manager

Thank you so much Joseph! You have given me a great support. It was really nice to be in contact with you and I thin...

Website Review Photo

Ashley Maclean

Systems Sales Engineer, South Carolina

Jack Purnell with Irving Knight was the best recruiter I’ve worked with - by far. He communicated clearly, was respec...

Website Review Photo

Lucas Quadflieg

Sales Manager, Netherlands

Good vibes on finding a new opportunity... I was contacted by Aidan Kerr for a position of Sales Manager Benelux. Af...

Website Review Photo

Moacyr Pedro

Senior Manager - Brazil

First contact I received from Henry Sears was 6 month ago and since the very beginning he seems to be a very trustful...

Website Review Photo

Keith P

Director - USA

The attention to detail and follow up were amazing. The truly distinguishing part was the complete transparency &hone...

Website Review Photo

Julian Arroyo David

Engineer - USA

Sam went above and beyond throughout the entire process. He did not just help find the right fit, he was genuinely he...

Website Review Photo

Ricardo Jesus

Commercial Manager - USA

Working with Garin was the best experience. He helped me a lot to find this position . Highly recommended

Website Review Photo

Guillermo Leal

Global Director of Pricing, US

I've worked with a few recruiters in the past but Oliver surprised me not only for his professionalism, excellent com...

Website Review Photo

Daniel Villanueva

Key Account Manager

Joseph is a dedicated professional and a stand up person to work with. His patience and his understanding certainly s...

Website Review Photo

Rania Metwall

Head of Sales, France

Would highly recommend working with Luca Dowdell. He helped me find the perfect job. Very professional, friendly and ...

Website Review Photo

Andrew Coutts

Director Global Strategy, US

First Class Service Emma shared details of a relevant opportunity and did a great job helping to manage lengthy nego...

Website Review Photo

Joerg Schlagmann

Senior Global Manager

Great expert: supportive, challenging and always empowered for his customers and his work! Not more to say: just exce...

Website Review Photo

Pierre D'Amours

VP Sales

I had a great experience working with Irving Knight, and especially with Lily Newton. From start to finish, Lily was ...

Website Review Photo

Michael Wilson

Senior Account Manager

Working with Joseph was a seamless and positive experience from our first contact along with the various steps of the...

Website Review Photo

Sandeep Kulshrestha

Formulation Director, US

Oliver is very good in matching skills of the candidates with the company’s requirements. I personally got benefits o...

Website Review Photo

Kerry Maye

Regional Sales Manager

Working with Joseph was a wonderfully positive experience from our first contact, through acceptance of my job offer....

Website Review Photo

Jane Scates

Packaging Engineer, US

Henry was a true professional, perfect attention to detail at every step of the process. Would definitely recommend!

Website Review Photo

Todd McBroom

District Sales Mgr, US

Great Experience!! This was my first time dealing with a recuiter and could not have been a better experience. Jack ...

Website Review Photo

Tim Mitchell

Division Plant Manager

Stewart did an amazing job representing me for a new opportunity

Website Review Photo

Brian Carpenter

VP Continous Improvement, US

Stewart was instrumental in helping me through this process and alleviating my concerns as I’ve been out of the workf...

Website Review Photo

Anja Florbach

Digital & Commercial Excellence Manager

Thank you so much Joseph! You have given me a great support. It was really nice to be in contact with you and I thin...

Website Review Photo

Ashley Maclean

Systems Sales Engineer, South Carolina

Jack Purnell with Irving Knight was the best recruiter I’ve worked with - by far. He communicated clearly, was respec...

Did you know?

Hiring the wrong candidate costs more than just time—it can waste salary, training resources, and opportunities. The Department of Labour estimates a bad hire can cost up to 30% of the role’s first-year earnings.

We hire right

Organisations are often reluctant to use external recruiters due the percieved cost. Think about it like this - what financial benefit could a top candidate bring to your business unit? You could make a 100x return on your investment.

  • 97% Placement Rate 1
  • 1.78:1 CVs Sent to Interviews 2
  • Avg. 32 Day Engagement to Placement 3

1. Based on all roles engaged on by a client on an exclusive basis from Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

2. All CVs Sent from Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

3. From Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

Navigating a Candidate-Driven Market

This is a candidate-driven market — and it has been since the pandemic.

Top talent has options. They’re selective, informed, and expect more than just competitive salary. Securing them requires market insight, credibility, speed, and the ability to position opportunities properly.

We act as your market partner — managing candidate expectations, advising on strategy, and ensuring you don’t lose the people you actually want.

Cost of a Bad Hire Candidate Driven Market

Understanding the problem

We work in committed partnerships, applying logical and well-planned searches, executed to the highest standard, and considering every factor of recruitment.

Personal Brand

Does your organisation lack a personal brand? Do you struggle to attract candidates over competitors?

Challenging Location

Is the role based in a challenging location? Does the local talent pool lack the skills you're searching for?

Trends & Benchmarking

Are you up to date with market trends and salary benchmarking? Is something missing?

Progression

Are you offering the right progression opportunties? Is the candidate able to progress and develop?

Time Constraints

Do you have time constraints on making a placement? Did you need the candidate yesterday?

Job Criteria

Is the job criteria unrealistic? Is the person you're looking to hire simply non-existent?

Irving Knight Culture & Values

Specialisms We Cover