Pukar Patel
Vice President, Food Safety and Quality Assurance @Latitude 36 Foods
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WORK HISTORY
Vice President, Food Safety and Quality Assurance @Latitude 36 Foods
Corona, CA, US
As Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance at Latitude 36 Foods, leading the charge on our enterprise-wide FSQA strategy has been both challenging and rewarding. Overseeing multiple manufacturing sites means ensuring compliance with stringent regulations like FSMA, FDA, USDA, and SQF while also making sure our programs are practical for daily operations. One of the highlights has been implementing AI-driven tools that have significantly enhanced our audit readiness—improving it by about 30%. Being the senior voice during audits means being prepared for anything. Achieving a perfect inspection readiness rate is no small feat but is crucial for maintaining consumer trust. Collaborating closely with executive leaders has allowed us to navigate crises effectively while ensuring traceability in our processes. Building a high-performing team has been another passion project—through strategic hiring and coaching efforts, we’ve seen team efficiency soar by 40%. Additionally, launching a digital supplier program has transformed our corrective action processes—reducing response times by 25% has made a significant impact on our overall quality control measures. This role is not just about compliance; it\'s about elevating standards across the board.Competencies: Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), Quality Assurance Leadership, Supplier Quality Improvement
EDUCATION
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Bachelor of Science (BS), Biotechnology
SKILLS
ABOUT PUKAR PATEL
Accomplished Food Safety and Quality Assurance executive in the food & beverage industry with 17+ years of leadership experience, and a proven track record of elevating organizational standards and delivering compliance to the highest industry benchmarks. As Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance, I’m accountable for enterprise-wide FSQA strategy and execution that protects consumers, strengthens brands, and ensures regulatory FDA, USDA, FSMA, and GFSI compliance—including SQF alignment and certification readiness.With 17+ years in Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory leadership—including 16+ years building and leading high-performing teams—I’ve overseen and modernized comprehensive quality management strategies aligned to global regulations and standards. My focus spans preventive controls, HACCP, sanitation, Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP), allergen management, supplier quality, and traceability to support operational excellence and customer confidence.I’m committed to developing leaders and embedding a culture where food safety and quality are foundational to how the business operates—every day, at every site.
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