Nidhi Kanagat
NSF
Gurugram
6
Certification
19
Years of experience
Food Safety and Business Assurance professional with 17+ years across TIC, Hygiene, Packaging, and food & beverage manufacturing. Lead strategic account growth and operational initiatives across ISC, MENA & APAC regions while fostering strong stakeholder relationships to deliver sustainable solutions aligned with business objectives. Committed to supporting businesses in achieving their financial targets while ensuring compliance. Holds Lead Auditor certification for BRC and FSSC 22000.
Work History
Business Lead - Food & Nutrition
3 Years 3 Months- Spearheaded growth of food and nutrition programs across audit, certification, training, consulting, and claims. Developed strategic initiatives expanding market reach in ISC and MENA regions.
- Grew the advisory & training revenue 3.2x, from 0.1M in 2023 to 0.32M in 2026, delivering 70% YOY growth in FY24, 30% in FY25 & 45% in FY26. Projected to reach 0.4 M in FY27
- Led operational delivery for advisory, audits, and training programs. Created and launched new training modules based on client feedback to ensure ongoing engagement.
- Developed pricing strategies and monetization models for business growth. Directed cost control measures improving gross margins and led budgeting efforts by creating financial plans and analysing monthly variances.
- Leading client relationship across key accounts and ensuring delivery of projects, and growing business YoY
- Partnered with cross-functional teams across regions to improve service outcomes
Corporate Engagement Specialist
3 Years 8 Months- Managed end to end service delivery, problem solving & P&L for key corporates across e-retail (Amazon, Flipkart, Big Basket, Spencer's), HoReCa (Compass, Zomato, Chaayos, Jubilant, Taj hotels) Manufacturer (Delightful Gourmet, Southern Health Foods, General Mills, Wingreens, Modern Bakery, Agrofex) International importers & affiliation (BioCore BV, HITSLab) Regulators &Govt. (FSSAI, Spice Board, Meghalaya PHE)
- Developed operational & functional models and prepared various analysis to aid in building strategy & decision making. Improved top line with increased revenue by 25% YOY and retention of 86%. Improved bottom line with 90% recovery with periodic reconciliation reviews
- Led the CRM function. Initiated and streamlined the MIS formats as per reporting level for both internal and client reviews. Revised & redefined client communication across all levels of business team. Improving & regularizing feedback mechanism
- Identified solutions to service problems using new tech tools; developed mobile applications for tracking, monitoring, and reporting key metrics, providing real-time access to users.
- Liaised with regulators and government institutions to execute projects for establishing food labs, testing food samples, auditing food preparation and service centres, managing vendors for e-retailers, and developing apps for tracking and monitoring reports.
- Spearheaded social media campaigns and engagement activities, including webinars and panel discussions; created content for website and social media. Designed business website, marketing collaterals, print ads, logo, visiting cards with QR codes, product brochures, standees, and banners, enhancing brand recall and revenue while opening new income streams.
- Mid stream value chain services like sourcing, testing & inspection, storage, crop weather & price intelligence, funding, trading and transportation
Freelance FSQA Consultant
2 Years 4 Months- Executed consulting projects focused on food safety standard implementation, FSSAI compliance, quality management training, and audits for flour industry, QSR, kitchens, bakeries, and suppliers/vendors
- Conducted internal audits, facility checks, gap assessments, vendor evaluations, and management; trained teams on food safety standards and HACCP implementation/documentation for ISO 22K, FSSC 22K, and BRC across various food factories, vendors, restaurants, commissary kitchens, retail outlets, and food serving stations
- Assisted industries and start-up companies in obtaining FSSAI licenses and establishing in-house testing laboratories, conducting dry, wet, and microbiological tests, and managing documentation
Key Account Manager - Food Care (Global Accounts)
1 Year- Steered account strategy for 7 global clients, based on data and managed their needs and opportunities in terms of potential and value propositions. Ensured long term growth within the account by managing E2E relationship
- Analyzed customer value chain, identified key drivers, developed value propositions and effective campaigns, and achieved sales targets
- Conducted monthly and quarterly sales reviews, monitored customer sales performance and contributions, implementing action plans to stimulate sales
- Evaluated and developed hygiene and packing business portfolio for Sealed Air in dairy sector in Indian subcontinent, collaborating with field sales and sector specialists for consistent delivery while managing P&L account worth 13 million/year
- Led product trials and plan & execute product trials at manufacturing sites (Nestle, Abbott, HUL, MotherDairy, Lactalis, Hatsun) in collaboration with ops team to deliver committed process & utility savings
- Designed effective hygiene and packaging strategies for diverse products, enhancing safety and quality across multiple food categories.
Consultant - Quality & Food Safety
1 Year 1 Month- Created and implemented food safety programs, documentation of HACCP, BRC, FSSC 22k programs, conduct mystery audits & manage vendor evaluations for the bakery, fresh fruit & vegetable industry, processed food operations
- Coached and implemented food safety standards for 6 MSMEs, audited and shared best practices with 23 clients across South India, enhancing compliance and operational standards.
- Conducted food safety management system gap audits, implemented processes, and provided training to FBOs in the food ecosystem, including vendor management to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Prepared training modules and presented over 180+ trainings to food handlers, supervisors, managers on topics including, GFSI standards, HACCP, GMP, GHP, FSSAI, storage & handling and labelling practices
- Participated in regulatory and quality council forums to keep track of emerging regulations, trends that could possibly impact client businesses
- Tracked market opportunities, created and managed value propositions for prospective clients, developed strategic partnerships, and conducted management review meetings to support business growth.
Corporate Quality Assurance Officer
- Managed compliance to regulatory and BIL standards, for all 92 bakery & dairy manufacturing units. Developed tech tools for effective monitoring and review of key metrics related to compliance of established quality processes, including dashboards & monthly summary for management reviews
- Implemented systems as per award criteria expectations (including training) at units & head office for award-committee audits. Wrote & summited 7 award documents and won all 7 awards for Britannia -Golden Peacock Award, IMC RamaKrishna Bajaj Award-National & Asia-Pacific, National Quality Excellence for supply chain, Global performance excellence award for quality management system
- Designed & executed product and process improvement programs -standardization through gold standard (product quality) stencils across all product categories (dairy, biscuits, rusk, cakes, bread); Organized & executed internal competitions to improve & standardize across select parameters and categories
- Developed & trained 5 sensory panels across regions for market benchmarking and internal organoleptic evaluation. Led monthly product evaluation programs & developed a ToT user manual
- Revamped CRM process to improve grievance handling process to elevate customer satisfaction; conducted appropriate RCA, including vendor evaluation, monitoring QIP's & imparting trainings
- Manufacturing and exporting of Bakery, Dairy, Instant breakfast cereals, Dry Snacks
Market Research Intern
4 Months- Planned and led end-to-end research on consumer behaviour for ready-to-eat foods, informing product development strategies. Conducted extensive market research in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, identifying trends to guide marketing initiatives.
- Identified market gaps for new and updated products and services.
- Conducted comprehensive market research to identify industry trends and consumer preferences.
- Compiled detailed reports on findings, highlighting key insights for marketing strategy development.
Management Representative
10 Months- Investigated food safety deviations and quality defects; ensured compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 through internal and third-party supplier audits
- Planned and supervised execution of production plan; verified QC analysis of all RM, PM, FG to ensure quality standards met
- Conducted statistical analysis and provided solutions for breakage, customer satisfaction, supplier performance, and wastage; steered monthly management review meetings to address findings
Quality Assurance Intern
5 Months- Performed quality checks on raw materials, packaging materials, in-process products, and finished products to ensure compliance with standards. Collaborated with new product launch team for Bournville, contributing to successful product introduction. Conducted shelf-life studies and quality tests, monitoring defects to identify and address quality issues. Concluded a root cause analysis on the pinholes & fat bloom defect and reduced the pinholes/ machine by 86% and fat bloom defects by 95%
Education
MBA - International Agribusiness Management
BE - Food Processing Technology
Skills
Operational Excellence
Strategic Portfolio Management
Compliance Management
Global Account Management
P&L Management
Business Strategy & Development
Market Benchmarking
Marketing and Branding
Project Management
Solution Provider Incorporating New Age Tech Tools
Negotiation & Contract Reviews
Training and Manual Development
Organoleptic Connoisseur
Client Relationship and Engagement
Consumer Research & Competitive Landscape Mapping
Certification
- Lead Auditor - BRC Food Safety Issue 8 - Intertek, New Delhi,
- Lead Auditor - FSSC 22000 - AFSTI, Mumbai,
- Internal Auditor - FSSC 22000 including ISO/TS 22002-1:2009 - Intertek, Bangalore,
- Sensory Analysis of Aroma & Flavor of Food Ingredients & Packaged Foods - CFTRI, Mysore,
- Orientation of Sensory Evaluation of Dairy Products - NDRI, Bangalore, Sensory Evaluation training of Bakery Products - Britannia, Bangalore
Accomplishments
- Developed 6 mobile applications to ease tracking, monitoring & reporting for NCML Laboratory business (2021 -22)
- Developed tech tools for challenges identified during sampling & sample pick up, supplier inspection, kitchen audits, spice board stuffing & inspection, sampling to testing &reporting
- Won 7 prestigious Quality awards for Britannia Industries between (2011 - 13)
- Wrote & compiled application document for national & international awards - Golden Peacock Award, IMC Ramakrishna Bajaj Award, Quality Excellence Award for planning, processes, systems and quality management system. Britannia won all the above awards
- Global recognition in Sealed Air Corp. for having won an Abbott contract worth 13 million & Nestle contract worth 27 million (2017)
- Instrumental in winning a 13Mn hygiene contract for Abbott Nutrition's greenfield plant in Jhagadia , and 2.7Mn for Nestle's dairy plant in Samalkha; by replacing caustic with formulated detergent for CIP of all lines in the plant with promised savings in operations cost and water savings
- Automated data management for all 92 manufacturing units of Britannia Industries (2014)
- Designed & implemented a real time tool for data management, giving access to real time performance dashboard (across all quality metrics)for all mfg units at click of a button.
Timeline
Business Lead - Food & Nutrition
NSF
07.2023 - CurrentRead More
Corporate Engagement Specialist
National Commodities management Limited
11.2019 - 07.2023Read More
Freelance FSQA Consultant
Self Employed
06.2017 - 10.2019Read More
Key Account Manager - Food Care (Global Accounts)
Sealed Air Corporation
06.2016 - 06.2017Read More
Consultant - Quality & Food Safety
Food Safety Works
04.2015 - 05.2016Read More
Corporate Quality Assurance Officer
Britannia Industries Limited
Jun 2011 - Jan 2015Read More
Market Research Intern
Jindal Agro Processing Limited
01.2011 - 05.2011Read More
Management Representative
Madhav Agro Foods Private Limited
07.2008 - 05.2009Read More
Quality Assurance Intern
Mondelez India Foods Limited (previously Cadbury India Limited)
01.2008 - 06.2008Read More
IABMI, Anand Agricultural University
MBA from International Agribusiness Management
Read More
A.D. Patel Institute of Technology, S.P. University
BE from Food Processing Technology
Read More