Manale El Kaddoum
Montreal,QC
Summary
Knowledgeable Product Development, R&D and QA Manager adept at collaborating with team members, other departments and customers to produce relevant, high-quality products that drive company growth. Well-organized and proactive with excellent communication and planning abilities. Ready to offer 15 + years of progressive experience and knowledge from different markets and regions.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Product Development and R&D
NaturSource Inc
05.2024 - Current
- Lead the product development and innovation process for retail and special customers in North America like Costco, Loblaws and others
- Searched the latest trends and new ingredients, commodities, volumes, pricing lead time, etc
- Executed product development projects from initial concept to commercial launch
- Demonstrated innovation and creativity through new product creations
- Created lab prototypes & samples of new products for submission to customers
- Prepared new product samples for Sales and Marketing presentations and ensured samples are of the highest quality and representative of plant-made products
- Actively involved and present during all plant trials and first production for new products
- Worked with production in the continuous improvement of efficiencies, cost and waste reduction
- Provided information for product costing
- Ensured creative initiatives meet customer expectations and are in line with current operational capabilities
- Provided technical and analytical support on product and process development
- Responded to performance issues in the field based on feedback from customers
- Worked directly with suppliers to acquire product samples that meet our requirements
- Coordinated with Sales, Production, QA, Marketing, and Purchasing to bring new products to market
- Documented and summarized all R&D activities and findings including recipes, procedures, and analytical reports
- Maintained lab cleanliness and organized ingredient sample library and specifications
- Ensured GMPs and safe food handling practices are being followed.
- Conducted prototype testing to identify potential issues early in the development process, allowing for proactive problem-solving before full-scale production began.
- Facilitated the transition of products from concept to production by coordinating with manufacturing teams and addressing potential issues during scaleup.
- Conducted market research to identify customer needs and preferences.
- Oversaw development of more than [Number] new products each year.
Manager, Food Safety, Quality and Product development - Supply chain function
Subway Europe, MEA, South Asia
12.2018 - 04.2024
- Managed the Food Safety and Quality system of 50+ suppliers and distributors for all food categories across EMEA region
- Approved new suppliers and audited existing key suppliers to ensure compliance to Subway food Safety, Quality and Legal standards
- Developed, maintained & approved product specification, technical information, and finished product design standards
- Worked with the Suppliers and the regional QA teams on the Quality management software
- Developed the regional teams Ways of Working and the onboarding program for several markets
- Trained and assisted the franchisee QA on key FSQA activities and best practices
- Visited and assisted 3rd party stores auditors for food safety and quality standards compliance
- Commercialized, developed, and enhanced 90+ products across all markets
- Lead risk mitigation, localization, and cost reduction projects across GCC and Turkey
- Shared and communicated Subway product specifications, best practices, and know-how to facilitate product development/matching.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Monitored and analyzed business performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
- Reduced operational costs through comprehensive process improvement initiatives and resource management.
Processing Manager and R &D
Hawa Chicken
12.2011 - 12.2018
- Established the new Hawa Chicken factory, including purchasing of new equipment and production lines
- Optimized and developed all new recipes and processes for the new factory producing chicken and Turkey products for retail and QSR
- Researched the current consumer markets, trends, and latest technologies to develop new product ideas and select products from suppliers
- Developed new and modified existing products, recipe formulation, and optimized processes
- Prepared product costing based on raw materials and worked with finance, marketing, and supply chain to provide profitable products.
- Created production schedules to effectively fulfill production plans and meet process goals.
- Scheduled products, prepared items for sale and submitted samples for analysis to facilitate quality assurance process.
- Observed production control points and equipment and monitored personnel allocation and resources to meet quality standards.
- Streamlined processing procedures by implementing innovative strategies and technological solutions.
- Managed budgetary constraints, optimizing costs while maintaining high-quality output standards.
- Successfully managed team of [Number] staff, providing assistance and answering questions.
- Evaluated and assessed employee performance to meet production and data targets.
- Fostered a culture of accountability, setting clear expectations for team members that led to improved performance metrics over time.
- Enhanced team performance by providing comprehensive training programs and regular feedback.
- Implemented cost reductions and developed reporting procedures and systems resulting in [Number]% cost savings.
Quality Assurance & Lab Analyst
Hawa Chicken
11.2008 - 11.2011
- Implemented ISO 22000 and established HACCP plans, validation, and verification procedures
- Conducted online inspection and quality control for each step of the process and inspection on raw material and final products.
Education
Food Engineer - Masters (MSc) - Food science and technology
Lebanese University – Faculty of Agricultural Engineering
01.2011
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Biology and Animal science
Lebanese University-Faculty of Science
01.2008
Skills
- Design thinking
- Data-driven decision-making
- Risk Assessment
- Product Roadmapping
- Project Management
- Vendor Relations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability and Flexibility
Certification
- GCC food law training, Campden BRI UK, 09/2021
- Workshop on Subway Meat, chicken and Turkey technology, Hela Germany, 09/2019
- Meat Seminar for MEA: developing new products and testing new flavors for MEA market, Zaltech Austria, 06/2018
- IRCA certified lead auditor FSSC 22000, SGS, 01/2018
- ADM meat training, University of applied science Den Bosch Netherlands
- Workshop on Hams, roasts, burgers, nuggets technology and marination technology (oil marinades, glazing and pastes), RAPS GMBH, Germany, 11/2016
- Training on developing new products and recipes, testing of new machinery and equipment (oven, injection, tumbling, coated products lines.), GEA Netherlands, 05/2015
- Shelf-life calculation methods training, 10/2017
- Lean Six Sigma Green belt, Lebanon, 08/2012
- ISO 22000:2005 foundation and internal auditor training course, SGS, 03/2012
Languages
English
French
Arabic
Timeline
Product Development and R&D
NaturSource Inc
05.2024 - Current
Manager, Food Safety, Quality and Product development - Supply chain function
Subway Europe, MEA, South Asia
12.2018 - 04.2024
Processing Manager and R &D
Hawa Chicken
12.2011 - 12.2018
Quality Assurance & Lab Analyst
Hawa Chicken
11.2008 - 11.2011
Food Engineer - Masters (MSc) - Food science and technology
Lebanese University – Faculty of Agricultural Engineering
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Biology and Animal science
Lebanese University-Faculty of Science
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