TAMEKA CARR
Union,KY
Summary
Award winning quality, food safety, quality, and product development expert with experience leading senior managers through multi-million-dollar projects, managing food safety and quality programs and developing private label products at Fortune 30 companies. Specialize in developing high performing teams and strategic programs at the facility and corporate levels in food manufacturing and retail. Skilled at creating unique and innovate solutions to problems and driving results.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director – Product Development and Quality
Kroger
05.2019 - Current
- Oversee product development, quality, and regulatory for the Kroger Family of Brands
- Direct the efforts of 50+ scientists and regulatory experts in new product development, sensory analysis, and quality monitoring for a portfolio exceeding 20K products
- Partner with the cross functional executive teams to establish the strategic objectives for product development and design
- Collaborate across manufacturing, marketing, merchandising, and sourcing to optimize product sales plans, maximizing profitability, and improve productivity and reliability in operations.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth across the enterprise
Director – Stores Food Safety
Target
06.2014 - 12.2018
- Oversee and set the strategic direction for a team of technical experts responsible for food safety, quality, and regulatory affairs for 1800+ retail stores across 49 states
- Champion the development of an enterprise-wide food safety quality management system
- Budget oversight $17M
- Led the team responsible for developing, implementing, and managing cleaning and sanitation, pest control, time and temperature, health and hygiene, food manager certification, USDA organic certifications, food safety training and 3rd party audit programs and processes
- Implemented risk-based 3rd Party audit and store training programs that mitigate food safety risk, cut cost by $1.2M and increased productivity by more than 51,000 hours
- Empowered the team to meet all regulatory requirements and develop new best practices for the successful launch of grocery flexible fulfillment expansions.
Group Manager – Owned Brand Product Development and Design
Target
05.2012 - 06.2014
- Built a team of diverse food scientists responsible for the design and quality of all owned brand dairy, frozen, meat and seafood, perishables and food service products in the United States and all owned brand products in Canada
- Led the team through the launch of a new health and wellness brand (i.e., Simply Balanced); delivered $72M+ sales in first 6 months
- Drove owned brand growth and profitability through increased quality improvements and incremental product development resulting in more than $400M sales annually
- Increased product development process efficiencies by reducing touchpoints by more than 50% and reducing time to market from 46 weeks to 16 weeks for key product categories
- Led the product development profit and quality optimization efforts for cheese, cookies, crackers, and soup resulting in $15.3M in cost savings
- Led a cross functional team of subject matter experts through the evaluation configuration and implementation of a new specification and label technology solution.
Manager – Owned Brand Product Standards and Quality
Target
05.2010 - 05.2012
- Led a technical team responsible for ensuring the brand and quality standards for all owned brand products (4000+) have approved and documented specifications and in-store production cards
- Assessed product compliance to approved specifications over the product lifecycle
- Created the product standards team and established clear roles and responsibilities while increasing department productivity and overall team morale
- Elevated the division’s focus and ability to assess product consistency and quality through the creation of prioritization tools and reporting
- Integrated ongoing product quality review programs, resulting in a 10% decrease in guest complaints.
Manager – Owned Brand Product Development and Design
Target
12.2008 - 05.2010
- Managed and provided technical direction and guidance to a team of food scientists throughout the product development process
- Developed and designed products for signature owned brand categories
- Managed the product development and design efforts of all owned brand dairy and frozen scientists resulting in more than 330 new product launches
- Developed 128 new Owned brand items in the meat and seafood business
- Reinvented the Owned brand premium and national brand equivalent pizza program.
Sr. Scientist – Owned Brand Product Development and Design
Target
06.2007 - 12.2008
- Functioned as the lead product development scientist for the owned brand dairy, frozen, warm beverages, breakfast, bread, and baking categories
- Conducted research, developed incremental items, and ensured products met the established brand standards and profitability requirements
- Drove innovation and differentiation through the development of owned brand and exclusive products
- Developed 16 premium Ice Cream products, where the Belgian Chocolate was recognized as number one in Consumer Reports
- Developed the only owned brand freezer to oven cook in bag turkey; consistently outsells national brand year over year from the date of launch.
Manager – Private Label Project Management - Deli/Bakery
Kroger
08.2005 - 05.2007
- Facilitated project timing, communication, and execution of new product development between the private label sales team, product development scientists and manufacturing facilities for the Deli/Bakery division
- Managed the packaging design manager daily task and responsibilities
- Successfully managed the development and launch of 300+ products
- Created and launched the Kit Salad Program for all Delis across the enterprise resulting in a streamlined in-store production process, improved food safety and quality best practices and an increase in product shelf life and freshness
- Created and managed an enterprise-wide issue resolution process for all Deli/Bakery in-store produced products.
Manager – Private Label Packaging Design
Kroger
08.2004 - 08.2005
- Managed new packaging development and design while acting as the liaison between 3rd party designers, manufacturing facilities, product development and quality assurance
- Managed design contractor daily task and responsibilities
- Executed the relaunch for all center of store bread for new food pyramid
- Managed the Grains for Life for all eligible center of store bakery items.
Manager – Private Label Packaging Design
Kroger
08.2004 - 08.2005
- Managed new packaging development and design while acting as the liaison between 3rd party designers, manufacturing facilities, product development and quality assurance
- Managed design contractor daily task and responsibilities
- Executed the relaunch for all center of store bread for new food pyramid
- Managed the Grains for Life for all eligible center of store bakery items.
Manager - Private Label Sales - Grocery Products Group
Kroger
04.2003 - 08.2004
- Managed the sales of select Kroger manufactured items in the Grocery Products Group
- Called on external clients to hit sales, margin, and contribution goals
- Developed private label sales plans for beverage, cheese, and core grocery manufacturing facilities
- Partnered with the category sales manager to align and integrate private label sales plans into the monthly grocery sales plan
- Developed point of sale material for new private label beverage, cheese, and core grocery products.
Sr. Scientist– Private Label Product Development
Kroger
05.2001 - 04.2003
- Developed salads, sauces, and dips for all Kroger manufacturing commissary facilities
- Supported quality assurance for Kroger Deli manufacturing
- Developed more than 100 novel items and conducted more than 115 sensory evaluations
- Conducted product quality review audits to ensure products met specifications.
Assistant Manager – Food Safety and Quality Assurance – KB Specialties
Kroger
06.1999 - 05.2001
- Led the day-to-day food safety and quality control responsibilities
- Worked in conjunction with the production manager, plant engineer, and sanitarian
- Managed all laboratory technicians
- Facilitated customer quality and compliance audits
- Developed, implemented, and maintained the facility allergen protection and HACCP programs, including training all employees
- Developed a comprehensive supplier tracking program to better assess inventory and supplier performance.
Education
DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA) -
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZMASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) - Project Management
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KYBACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS) - Food Science
Purdue University
Lafayette, INTECHNICAL DIPLOMA - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute International of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MNSkills
- Strategic Planning
- Creativity and Innovation
- People Management
- Project Management
- Food Safety
- Quality Management
- Process Improvements
- Product Development
- Organizational Development
Certification
- Certified Professional of Food Safety (CPFS), #23090, National Environmental Health Association
- Food Safety Manager Certification, #20997523, National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, #6112091, National Restaurant Association
- Federal Food Regulations, Prime Label Certification
- HACCP Plan in Meat and Poultry Plants, HACCP Consulting Group, LLC
Personal Information
Title: MBA, CP-FS
Awards
- Named Kroger Top 100
- Progressive Grocers Top Women in Grocery
- Designed Products Featured on Good Morning America
- Designed Products Ranked #1 in Consumer Reports
Timeline
Director – Product Development and Quality
Kroger
05.2019 - Current
Director – Stores Food Safety
Target
06.2014 - 12.2018
Group Manager – Owned Brand Product Development and Design
Target
05.2012 - 06.2014
Manager – Owned Brand Product Standards and Quality
Target
05.2010 - 05.2012
Manager – Owned Brand Product Development and Design
Target
12.2008 - 05.2010
Sr. Scientist – Owned Brand Product Development and Design
Target
06.2007 - 12.2008
Manager – Private Label Project Management - Deli/Bakery
Kroger
08.2005 - 05.2007
Manager – Private Label Packaging Design
Kroger
08.2004 - 08.2005
Manager – Private Label Packaging Design
Kroger
08.2004 - 08.2005
Manager - Private Label Sales - Grocery Products Group
Kroger
04.2003 - 08.2004
Sr. Scientist– Private Label Product Development
Kroger
05.2001 - 04.2003
Assistant Manager – Food Safety and Quality Assurance – KB Specialties
Kroger
06.1999 - 05.2001
DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA) -
University of Phoenix
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA) - Project Management
Northern Kentucky University
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS) - Food Science
Purdue University
TECHNICAL DIPLOMA - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute International of Minnesota
Similar Profiles
Zachary McAllisterZachary McAllister
Cashier at KrogerCashier at Kroger
Desiree' A CherryDesiree' A Cherry
Accounting Associate at KrogerAccounting Associate at Kroger
Arturo Maldonado JrArturo Maldonado Jr
Logistics/Order Selection Case at KrogerLogistics/Order Selection Case at Kroger
Hannah McQueenHannah McQueen
Lead Barista at KrogerLead Barista at Kroger
William LittletonWilliam Littleton
Development Engine Assembly Mechanic at General Electric AerospaceDevelopment Engine Assembly Mechanic at General Electric Aerospace