Alkesh Trivedi

About you

I am passionate about learning and training in the area of Quality and Food Safety Management Systems. I have completed a Bachelor of Science degree, specialising in Chemistry, from Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, India.

I currently have more than 1.5 years of experience in a reputable FMCG organisation and leading food manufacturing industries in India, alongside more than 24 years of total professional experience, including 13 years with world-leading inspection, testing, and conformity assessment bodies such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, and TÜV SÜD in various positions.

I am focused on the implementation of quality and product safety management systems in the food sector. I currently work as an Assistant Vice President (Quality Assurance & Operations) at Punjab Agri Ventures Ltd. We manufacture ready-to-eat rice-based products, such as Zafrani rice and Peas Pulao; vegetable-based products, including curries and lentils; sauces, gravies, and cooking sauces; and ready-to-drink beverages, including oat milk, iced tea, cocktails, and mocktails.

We are a BRCGS-certified site, and I am responsible for most activities related to Quality Assurance and Product Safety Compliance. This involves implementing different food safety standards and requirements, including BRCGS Food Safety, HALAL, and Organic Processing, as well as conducting first- and second-party audits, customer audits, FSSAI audits, and army audits.

My role also includes customer complaint handling, risk assessments based on BRCGS Standard requirements, and delivering food safety and quality training to members of the food safety team.

I am from Ahmedabad, a city located in Gujarat, India. In my spare time, I enjoy reading research articles and journals related to Quality and Food Safety Management Systems, 5S, Energy Management Systems, and other related areas.

Why did you join the BRCGS Professional Programme?

New standards in quality and food safety are published in line with rapidly developing and constantly increasing industry expectations. I joined the BRCGS Professional Programme to gain international recognition, expand my connections within the global food safety community, and further develop my professional competencies.

As a professional, I have always believed in having a structured development path to enhance my skills. I have worked for a BRCGS-certified site for more than 1.5 years, and during this time I have seen how BRCGS, as a GFSI-benchmarked standard, has positively impacted the food supply chain.

I am grateful to BRCGS for providing such a comprehensive curriculum. Being a BRCGS Professional will be a valuable reference for my career and future professional opportunities.

What value do you personally feel the BRCGS Professional certification brings to you?

Food safety is of critical importance in food manufacturing and across the entire food supply chain. The BRCGS Professional courses have given me a broader technical perspective on product safety and a deeper understanding of the requirements.

I also feel that BRCGS Professional certification will guide me towards significant career development. Achieving BRCGS Professional status has given me a unique advantage in my 24+ year professional career, which spans manufacturing, inspection, auditing, and the implementation of BRCGS Standard requirements.

How has the training helped improve operations at your site/company?

With the knowledge I gained from the programme, I can make my training presentations more functional and professional and establish robust food safety and quality management systems within the company.

What did you most enjoy about the training?

I particularly enjoyed the technical experience, concept-based learning, and clarification of each point through examples that connected with the industrial experience of the ATP.

I plan to join many of the training courses in the coming days. I also enjoyed interacting with the trainer and other delegates from various industries, as we learned a great deal from one another’s experiences and the questions they raised.

The training gave me valuable insight into how the BRCGS Standard is interconnected. I particularly enjoyed the training techniques, delivery methods, and interactive tasks.

What are you most looking forward to within the Professional community?

I look forward to communicating, learning, and sharing experiences with quality and food safety professionals from around the world.

How do you plan to keep your skills up to date?

I plan to keep my skills up to date through the BRCGS Professional Progress Points (PPP) system, which includes activities such as further training, conferences and events, e-learning, and webinars.

What are your career ambitions/aims?

Being a Quality and Food Safety professional and now a BRCGS Professional is a very honourable and responsible position within the food sector.

I am in a field that has the power to safely feed millions of people and improve their health and wellbeing. Every day is a new day for me, as each day brings new challenges and opportunities for development.

I always try to stay updated with continuous changes in regulations and standards. I want to keep learning and improve my knowledge in line with the latest food standards so that I can support continuous improvement in any organisation I work for.