May Omar
QSR Menu Developer | Segment Innovation Marketer - Food & Protein
Cairo
Summary
Product development professional with proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and driving product innovation. Skilled in strategic planning, market analysis, and agile methodologies. Known for strong collaboration and flexibility to adapt to changing project needs. Highly focused on delivering measurable results and fostering culture of continuous improvement.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages
Work History
Regional Segment Innovation Marketer- F&B Division
ECOLAB – India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) Region
06.2023 - 09.2024
- Responsible for the activities of the various phases of the product’s development, including the system setup of new SKUs, product label creation, and tracking and reporting on product line metrics, responsible for the IMEA region.
- Work directly with clients to help them understand Ecolab’s innovative solutions for F&B industry investment opportunities by setting client expectations, and helping them reach their goals.
- Provide advice and guidance for investment opportunities, such as cost reductions, energy or water savings, and different solutions to customers as per their needs.
- Create reports and business cases on F&B portfolio and innovations performance and activity for the region's markets and clusters.
- Communicate with clients about their accounts, market conditions, and innovation trends.
- Support in building, adopting, and monitoring key market portfolio strategies for all IMEA markets.
- Support the sourcing of future trends research, enabling the future-proofing of the assets by identifying key consumer trends.
- Conduct thorough category analysis to understand market trends, customer preferences, and the competitive landscape.
- Regularly review and update the assortment based on changing customer demands and market dynamics.
- Coordination with R&D, manufacturing, regulatory, supply chain, and commercial teams in the region.
- Execute activities that are directly related to managing the performance of the existing product portfolio, including product rationalization, phase-in and phase-out, raw material strategies, and supply chain assurance, to continually improve the sales and profitability of the core F&B portfolio.
QA – Product Development Lead
McDonald’s Egypt
07.2021 - 06.2023
- Develop menu strategies, including prioritizing development opportunities for Egypt’s market, launching new products, LTOs, and developing solutions.
- Maintain nutrition and shelf life for all existing menu items, new products, and LTOs. Determining product specifications across the product lifecycle.
- Investigating and testing new equipment in line with testing standards, and proper packaging for operation. Planning, organizing, and overseeing production trials.
- Support manufacturing and design activities by developing prototypes for products in development.
- Gain business approval for a production start based on specific success criteria. This will be evidenced that the prototype has met the critical success criteria.
- Manage and monitor supplier systems and procedures to ensure they meet McDonald's quality standards, so that the restaurants receive the highest quality products.
- Develop and maintain the business relationship between McDonald's and its suppliers to ensure they comply with all aspects of McDonald's safety and quality standards.
- Monitor suppliers to ensure they consistently comply with McDonald's product specifications, including specifications for physical, chemical, and microbiological attributes.
- Educate, train, and validate sensory evaluation skills and McDonald’s gold standards in suppliers’ facilities by working with R&D and QA teams.
- Educate, train, and validate the operating procedures in more than 157 McDonald's stores by working with training and operations. Validate quality systems management through spot checks, inspections, and documentation.
- Collaborated closely with marketing teams to create compelling promotional materials that showcased key product features and benefits.
- Identified areas for improvement within existing product lines and developed strategies for continuous enhancement.
- Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, fostering collaboration and effective communication throughout the organization.
- Streamlined product development processes by implementing agile methodologies and efficient team collaboration.
- Developed innovative solutions to complex problems, leading to improved customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
- Identified opportunities for new products and improvements to existing products to increase sales.
- Maintained internal product knowledge database.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement market research strategies.
- Oversaw the development of more than six new products each year, and two new suppliers per year.
Senior Quality Specialist
Juhayna Food Industries
09.2019 - 07.2021
- Perform all sensory tests of Juhayna's final products.
- Analyze product chemical specifications to determine standards, and to establish quality and reliability expectancy of finished products.
- Applies chemical testing procedures to ensure that raw materials and quality of packaging meet quality standards.
- Follow up on the implementation of corrective and preventive actions, and control of non-conformance products and materials.
- Streamlined quality assurance processes for increased efficiency and reduced waste.
- Reduced customer complaints by addressing root causes and implementing corrective actions in a timely manner.
- Ensured compliance with industry standards by conducting internal audits and updating documentation as needed.
- Maintained calibration records and equipment maintenance schedules to ensure proper functioning of all tools critical to the quality assurance process.
- Assisted in selecting and validating test equipment needed for effective quality control and inspection activities, ensuring accurate and reliable measurements.
R&D Application Technologist - Flavors
Robertet Egypt - Flavors
12.2017 - 08.2019
- Develop finished product applications specialized in sauces and dairy products to present Robertet's flavor portfolio.
- Create new concepts based on trends for proactive presentations.
- Actively participate in technical and product development work sessions with customers. Manage briefs, which require meeting project objectives.
- Stock and maintain a library of finished samples, raw materials, packaging materials, and supplies for the lab.
- Perform analytical tests on samples (Brix, Density, pH, etc.). Assist with shelf-life studies.
- Participate in routine taste sensory evaluation panels.
- Complete all requests that require application samples.
- Follow the formula instructions when making samples.
- Delivered exceptional customer support by resolving technical issues promptly and effectively, leading to increased client satisfaction and retention.
- Coordinated inventory supplies and equipment to maximize team productivity.
- Conducted in-depth research to stay ahead of technology trends, ensuring competitive advantage.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology (Major of Microbiology)
Ain Shams University, Faculty of Agriculture
Cairo, Egypt 04.2001 -
Skills
- Positive mindset and dedication
- Rapid adaptability to diverse environments
- Rapid comprehension and application of new techniques
- Self-motivated professional
- Effective communication skills
- Proposal strategy formulation
- Innovative problem-solving
- Strategic product roadmapping
- Technical documentation
- Prototype development
Training
- Core Marketing Program – ECOLAB Global
- McDonald’s Product Quality & Sensory Evaluation Analysis Training at McDonald’s Corporate - Quality Center in Munich – Germany July 2022.
- McDonald’s Formulated & Dairy Product training. McDonald’s Corporate Quality Center in Hong Kong February 2022.
- FSSC 22000 Version 5 Internal Auditor Training Course
- Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001:2018) Lead Auditor.
- Diploma in Food Safety. MOOC Diploma
- 5S Methodology Training Course.
- Wastewater Utility Management Training Course.
- Food Allergy Training Course.
Certification
Certified Product Marketer, Ecolab - Core Marketing Program
Timeline
Certified Product Marketer, Ecolab - Core Marketing Program
11-2023
Regional Segment Innovation Marketer- F&B Division
ECOLAB – India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) Region
06.2023 - 09.2024
QA – Product Development Lead
McDonald’s Egypt
07.2021 - 06.2023
Senior Quality Specialist
Juhayna Food Industries
09.2019 - 07.2021
R&D Application Technologist - Flavors
Robertet Egypt - Flavors
12.2017 - 08.2019
Bachelor of Science - Biotechnology (Major of Microbiology)
Ain Shams University, Faculty of Agriculture
04.2001 -
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