Renu Sharma

Food Quality, Food Safety and New Product Development professional with 16 years of experience across food processing, beverages, packaged/natural mineral water and analytical laboratories. Hands-on expertise in beverage formulation and product development, process development and scale-up, QA/QC, food-safety systems, laboratory management, audits, validation, CAPA, specifications and team training. Experienced with BRC, FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP/GLP and ISO 17025 environments, including product compliance, sensory/stability evaluation and microbiological and chemical analysis.

NPD Manager & Quality Manager - MAHODAR BEVERAGES PVT. LTD. - Baddi, Himachal Pradesh

(2024-04)

• Lead end-to-end New Product Development for beverages, covering concept development, bench formulation, ingredient selection, pilot trials, process development, scale-up and commercialization.
• Develop and optimize functional and fruit-based beverages, herbal products including ashwagandha and Shilajeet concepts, protein beverages, barley/cereal beverages, coconut-water based drinks, shots and other beverage concepts.
• Conduct formulation trials, sensory evaluation, stability studies and troubleshooting; optimize taste, acidity, sweetness, mouthfeel, colour and product stability.
• Evaluate raw materials, flavours, sweeteners, stabilizers, preservatives, acids and functional ingredients, and coordinate supplier trials and technical evaluations.
• Coordinate production trials, process parameters and filling requirements including hot-fill/cold-fill operations, filtration and process controls to achieve consistent commercial quality.
• Manage QA/QC activities covering specifications, testing, product release, process verification, complaints, CAPA, hygiene, food safety and documentation.
• Work cross-functionally with Production, R&D, Purchase, Packaging, Laboratory and suppliers to resolve product/process issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Support label, ingredient, nutritional, product-claim and regulatory compliance for beverage products.

QA (Food Safety Manager) - CHATHA FOODS PVT. LTD. - Mohali, Punjab

(2021-11 - 2024-03)

• Managed Food Safety and Quality System activities with strong focus on BRC requirements, documentation, risk assessment, verification and continual improvement.
• Maintained and reviewed BRC documentation, food-safety records, procedures, risk assessments and audit evidence.
• Verified and validated CCPs, OPRPs and PRPs; monitored process controls and supported corrective and preventive actions for deviations.
• Managed traceability and mass-balance activities, including forward/backward traceability, mock recall and farm-to-fork traceability exercises.
• Developed and delivered training on GMP, hygiene, food safety, allergen control, sanitation, food defence/security and quality requirements.
• Coordinated laboratory activities, system validation, testing controls and review of quality and food-safety results.
• Supported internal audits, non-conformance investigation, root-cause analysis, CAPA and effectiveness verification.
• Worked with Production, QA, Stores, Engineering and other functions to strengthen food-safety culture and operational compliance.

QA/QC Head - AGNIS FINE WATERS PVT. LTD. - Mumbai

(2016-08 - 2021-09)

• Managed QA/QC and laboratory operations for raw water and packaged natural mineral water, including physical, chemical and microbiological testing as per applicable Indian Standards.
• Established and managed chemical and microbiology laboratory systems, including SOPs, sampling plans, test methods, records, calibration and reagent standardization.
• Implemented environmental monitoring, hygiene verification, sanitation/CIP validation, pre-operational checks and microbiological swab programmes.
• Planned external testing for heavy metals, pathogens, pesticide residues and radioactive residues through NABL-accredited laboratories and maintained compliance records.
• Planned and conducted internal audits, pest-control verification and quality-system checks; identified gaps and followed corrective actions.
• Verified laboratory and production quality data, maintained BIS-related testing/records and reported key quality issues to top management.
• Trained food handlers and laboratory personnel on GMP/GHP, personal hygiene, food safety, sampling, cleaning and sanitation.

Assistant Manager – QA & Product Compliance - CHATHA FOODS PVT. LTD. - Lalru, Punjab

(2014-07 - 2016-07)

• Managed online product compliance for ready-to-eat and shelf-stable processed meat products, including process verification, product specifications, packaging and labelling compliance.
• Monitored CCPs and OPRPs, supported hazard-control measures and evaluated process specifications and critical control points.
• Performed incoming quality checks for meat/non-meat raw materials, ingredients and packaging materials and verified conformance with specifications.
• Managed FSSC 22000 documentation, traceability, product recall, rework control and online production quality verification.
• Prepared and implemented SOPs for microbiological and chemical analysis, sampling, pH, salt, oil TPM, allergen control and product specifications.
• Supervised hygiene, sanitation, pest management, personal hygiene, temperature control, chillers/blast chillers, water and waste-management programmes.
• Handled microbiological testing of raw meat, processed products, spices, condiments, water and wastewater, plus chemical testing of ready-to-eat products.
• Investigated non-conformities, prepared CAPA and followed corrective actions with Production and other functions; supported audits and food-safety training.

Senior Microbiologist - BHAGAVATHI ANA LABS PVT. LTD. - Ropar, Punjab

(2012-05 - 2014-06)

• Managed microbiology laboratory activities in accordance with ISO 17025 requirements, including SOP implementation, method validation, calibration, internal audits and technical documentation.
• Performed food and environmental microbiological analysis, pathogen testing, biochemical identification, media preparation/validation and PCR-based detection.
• Managed laboratory resources, consumables, equipment and technical records; prepared reports and supported customer requirements.
• Handled non-conformances, customer complaints, CAPA, proficiency testing and internal training.

Senior Microbiologist / Research Associate - MARKFED FOOD TESTING LABORATORY - Ropar, Punjab

(2010-09 - 2012-05)

• Managed microbiological testing and laboratory activities in an ISO 17025/NABL-accredited food testing environment.
• Handled food and animal-feed analysis, pathogen handling, media/method validation, equipment calibration, documentation and reporting.
• Planned work for laboratory staff, supported internal audits and training, managed supplies and maintained laboratory quality controls.

Microbiologist - HIMALAYAN SPRINGS - Mohali, Punjab

(2009 - 2010)

• Performed microbiological quality testing and supported laboratory quality-control activities for packaged water operations.

Microbiologist - SQUARE MINERAL WATER (SPRING WELL) - Mohali, Punjab

(2008 - 2009)

• Performed routine microbiological analysis and quality checks for water and supported laboratory documentation and hygiene monitoring.

M.Sc. - Microbial & Food Technology - Punjabi University, Patiala (2006 - 2008)

B.Sc. - Medical - Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla (2003 - 2006)