Dhananjay Thete

Food Technologist with few years of overall experience, including 4 years of specialized experience in the Ready-to-Eat (RTE)&(RTD) food and beverage sector. Experienced in R&D, Production, QA/QC, Quality Compliance, Retort Operations, F₀ Studies, and Product & Process Standardization. Skilled in SOP development, quality testing, process improvement, documentation, audit support, factory hygiene, manpower training, costing, cost reduction, and team building.

Strong knowledge of retort Eble product development and manufacturing processes, with a focus on food safety, quality assurance, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Assistant Manager Production, R&D & Quality Control - Punjab Agri Ventures Ltd. - Punjab

(2025-04)

• Leading factory-level RTE manufacturing activities with responsibility for production performance, quality, R&D and process compliance.
• Ready-to-Eat (RTE) and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) products gravies, curries, dal, rice meals, biryani, pulao, sauces, and ready meals. & RTD beverages including oat milk, high-protein oat drinks, cold coffee, iced tea, Cocktail mixes, and plant-based beverages
• Overseeing daily production planning, resource utilization, manpower deployment and process coordination.
• Controlling retort processing, F₀ validation, pre-processing, CIP, hygiene and critical process parameters.
• Managing packaging and filling operations, including sealing, filling temperature and X-ray inspection.
• Driving new product development, R&D trials, process improvement and product standardization across RTE categories.
• Establishing and updating SOPs, specifications, traceability systems and operational documentation.
• Ensuring regulatory and quality compliance, including FSSAI, label & display requirements and laboratory practices.
• Coordinating with NABL laboratories for sample testing, analysis and report verification.
• Supporting BRCGS, customer and internal audits, including audit preparation, corrective actions and documentation.
• Implementing GMP personal hygiene, housekeeping and staff training programs to strengthen factory standards.
• Coordinating maintenance schedules and cross-functional teams to ensure efficient and uninterrupted operations.

RTE Incharge & Quality Control (QC) - Chokhi Dhani Foods Pvt. Ltd. - Jaipur

(2023-05 - 2025-04)

• Managed end-to-end RTE production and quality operations, from pre-processing to finished products.
• Handled production planning, kitchen hygiene, CIP, manpower, and process control.
• Managed retort operations, F₀ studies, and process standardization.
• Monitored Pouch filling machine, sealing, filling temperature, and X-ray checks.
• Managed quality and production of RTE meals, sauces, chutneys, frozen snacks, roti, and parathas.
• Supported R&D, trials, product/process improvement, and troubleshooting.
• Prepared SOPs, quality records, audit documents, and compliance documentation.
• Handled FSSAI portal compliance, GMP, hygiene, training, and quality audits.
• Implementing GMP, personal hygiene, housekeeping and staff training programs to strengthen factory standards.

Process Executive & QC - Varun Agro Processing Food Pvt. Ltd - Nashik

(2021-09 - 2023-04)

• Supervised process execution and quality assurance for aseptic fruit pulps and concentrates (guava, mango, tomato, papaya, banana) to ensure compliance with target output quotas.
• Monitored Critical Control Points (CCPs), Operational Prerequisite Programs (OPRPs), and PRPs to preserve food safety compliance throughout processing operations.
• Conducted root cause analysis (RCA) and implemented corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) for process deviations, customer complaints, and audit non-conformances (NCs).
• Managed CIP/COP sanitation protocols, daily lab instrument calibration, floor hygiene compliance, and final dispatch QC inspections.
• Monitored process parameters for paste and pulp manufacturing to enhance productivity and accuracy across operations.
• Managed floor manpower, conducted online parameter analysis, oversaw pre-startup machine inspections, and tracked daily production costs.

B. Tech - Food Technology - Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth Maharashtra (2021)