Amanda Mangalathil

• New Product Development: Spearheaded the development of successful products for major retailers, including Trader Joe’s Strawberry Mini Sheet Cake and Blueberry Streusel Muffins, and Costco’s Biscoff Cake, ensuring fast-paced approval and market launch.
• Sensory & Quality Assurance: Conducted sensory evaluations, shelf-life studies, and microbiological analysis to optimize product quality and stability.
• Regulatory & Compliance: Ensured all products met FDA standards, labeling regulations, and food safety guidelines.
• Ingredient Sourcing & Vendor Management: Approved multiple vendors by assessing ingredient quality, functionality, and compliance with supply chain standards.
• Costco & Retail Collaboration: Worked closely with Costco and other retail partners for product approvals, formulation adjustments, and compliance with quality standards.
• Process Optimization: Implemented efficient formulation trials and ingredient testing for product consistency and quality.
• Worked on refining pre-existing cakes to enhance taste and texture
• Conducted sensory tests to identify and address baking issues

1. Salad Toppers

• Developed customized salad toppers incorporating IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) fruits, nuts, seeds, and crispy elements to enhance texture and flavor.
• Formulated blends optimized for crunch retention, flavor stability, and moisture migration prevention.
• Sourced high-quality dried fruits, IQF ingredients, and spiced nuts while ensuring compatibility with retailer specifications.
• Ensured compliance with labeling regulations, FDA guidelines, and organic/non-GMO certifications as needed.
• Developed flavored digestive enzyme blends targeted for functional foods, utilizing natural flavor masking techniques to improve consumer palatability.
• Worked to integrate enzyme solutions into sports nutrition, dairy, and plant-based applications.
• Optimized enzyme stability for shelf-stable and refrigerated formulations, ensuring enzyme activity retention under different storage conditions.
• Conducted sensory trials to balance enzyme functionality with taste and texture, enhancing consumer acceptance.
• Developed gourmet chocolate formulations with functional inclusions like superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens.
• Worked with various cocoa profiles to achieve balance in bitterness, texture, and sweetness.
• Utilized natural flavor systems and stabilizers to enhance mouthfeel and prevent bloom in shelf-stable chocolates.
• Led ingredient sourcing for premium cacao, inclusions, and natural sweeteners, ensuring compliance with clean-label and organic claims.
• Led formulation and commercialization of gourmet muffins with unique inclusions like fruit purees, spiced fillings, and specialty nuts.
• Focused on moisture retention and extended shelf life without artificial preservatives.
• Incorporated IQF fruits for freshness, maintaining integrity during baking.
• Optimized batters for high-volume production while preserving artisan-like textures.
• Designed custom trail mix blends using IQF and dried fruits, roasted nuts, seeds, and gourmet chocolate pieces for premium snacking.
• Balanced sweet, salty, and umami profiles to enhance consumer satisfaction.
• Focused on oil and moisture migration control to prevent rancidity and ensure prolonged shelf life.
• Verified ingredient compliance for gluten-free, non-GMO, and allergen control standards.

• Partnered with chefs and R&D teams to develop fresh, ready-to-eat meals that met consumer taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Focused on flavor optimization, texture balance, and ingredient compatibility while scaling recipes for mass production.
• Ensured consistency in meal presentation, portioning, and sensory appeal across production batches.
• Developed meals specifically for keto, low-carb, and high-protein diets, ensuring macronutrient balance and culinary appeal.
• Utilized alternative ingredients (e.g., cauliflower rice, almond flour, low-glycemic sweeteners) to meet diet-specific requirements.
• Assisted in nutritional analysis and compliance with dietary guidelines for customer-focused meal plans.
• Ensured compliance with USDA and FDA requirements for fresh, refrigerated meals.
• Created and verified nutrition facts labels using Genesis to meet federal labeling regulations.
• Worked on ingredient declarations, allergen labeling, and clean-label product claims (e.g., organic, gluten-free, non-GMO).
• Maintained accurate record-keeping and documentation for regulatory audits.
• Sourced and tested fresh, high-quality ingredients while maintaining food safety and shelf-life stability.
• Collaborated with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure ingredient availability and regulatory compliance.
• Evaluated ingredient functional properties to optimize meal stability and prevent texture degradation.
• Managed the development and verification of packaging materials to ensure meal integrity during distribution.
• Coordinated labeling, printing, and packaging logistics to comply with USDA and FDA traceability and safety regulations.
• Worked with co-packers and logistics teams to distribute packaged meals across the country while ensuring freshness.

• Designed and developed fresh and frozen meat products, optimizing formulations for flavor retention, juiciness, and texture stability during freezing and thawing.
• Worked with different meat cuts (chicken, lamb, seafood, and processed meats) to create premium, ready-to-cook, and ready-to-eat options.
• Conducted moisture retention and brining trials to enhance product succulence without artificial additives.
• Performed shelf-life testing for fresh and frozen products, ensuring stability and quality over extended storage periods.
• Developed custom marinades for various regional and global flavor profiles to enhance Licious’ ready-to-cook meat portfolio.
• Optimized marinade absorption and penetration techniques to ensure balanced seasoning throughout different cuts.
• Worked on clean-label marinades, reducing artificial preservatives and optimizing natural antioxidants and stabilizers.
• Formulated premium cold cuts (ham, sausages, salami, mortadella) with an emphasis on texture, sliceability, and extended shelf life.
• Designed meat spreads with optimized emulsification techniques, ensuring creaminess, spreadability, and taste balance.
• Ensured protein stability, water-holding capacity, and fat emulsification in meat-based spreads to maintain product integrity.
• Conducted smoking and curing trials to improve flavor depth in cold cuts.
• Conducted sensory evaluation panels to assess taste, texture, and consumer preference for new meat products.
• Developed and validated shelf-life protocols, ensuring products remained microbiologically safe and organoleptically appealing over time.
• Implemented packaging solutions for extended freshness in fresh, frozen, and processed meats.
• Ensured compliance with FSSAI, USDA, and global meat industry standards for fresh and processed meats.
• Worked on ingredient declarations, labeling, and HACCP guidelines for Licious’ meat products.
• Verified microbiological testing and pathogen control to ensure food safety.

• Developed and launched cold brew tea with a 6-month shelf life
• Worked on formulation and production processes, ensuring large-scale feasibility
• Conducted microbial stability studies to optimize product safety