Ricardo Garijo

Head of R&D Department in the Spain and Portugal leader company in distribution brands and copacking for beers, soft drinks and wine derivatives (200 mio € Turnover/year).

Ice Cream Factory Comaker, S.A. is an spanish company dedicated to Ice Cream manufacturing for distribution brands, leader for Southern Europe ice cream manufacturing for distribution brands and copacking, turnover over 100 mio €/year. Responsible for QA systems management IFS, BRC and ISO standards. Development Manager for key accounts in spanish and french markets: Carrefour, DIA, Casino, Système U, Leader Price.

Martinez Loriente, S.A. is a company dedicated to fresh and frozen meat production, vertically integrated with Mercadona. As frozen Meat production area Manager, I was responsible for frozen meat operations implementation, leading a team of up to 70 persons working in a three. shift pattern, managing production key performance indicators and supply chain, as well as quality assurance and heatlh and safety policies company implementation.

To create and lead of company R&D team, being responsible to create innovation company policy together with marketing team and general management, and to manage R&D projects in accordance, leadering an up to 7 proyect managers team. Development of company brands as Frudesa, Bonduelle, Salto, Salteados and Duo, during the period 2001-09, with an up to 10% per year incremental contribution to company turnover was the main goal, obtained in the position.

Project manager responsible for frozen vegetables and products based on vegetables R&D projects. The launch of very tender peas and green beans, high added value vegetables families in Spain and Uk, and new recipies withing the existing Stir&Fry brands, were the major goals achieved during this period.

I was responsible for implementation of QA Company system, based on Unilever Standards for QA and Food Safety, including HACCP and good manufacturing practises. Additionally I leaded the quality control team, procedures and daily reporting. A degree certification obtained, consumer complaints reduction by 50% and migration from a quality control to a quality assurance organisation were my major achievements during the period.

Organic Chemistry