Geoff Webster
Food Industry Consultant | Specialist in Product and Process Development

Geoff has over 35 years' experience in the New Zealand Food Industry. He has qualifications in chemistry, quality assurance and nutrition, and experience as a chemical analyst, quality assurance manager and product development manager.

He has worked or consulted for some of New Zealand and Australia's largest companies including Unilever, Goodman Fielder, Fonterra and Griffins. Since 1990 he has specialised in product development and process improvement mainly for oils, fats and bakery companies.

Current consulting works covers spreads, sauces, bakery, nutritional supplements, vegan meat substitutes, snack bars, and beverages.

Services offered

Product & Process Development

Specialising in oils, fats and bakery products, and has skills with nutritional supplements, beverages, condiments, sauces, snack foods and vegetarian, vegan and keto foods.

Process development and improvement often in conjunction with engineering and manufacturing experts.

Qualifications & Experience

BSc Chemistry and Biochemistry (Massey University)
Diploma in Food Quality Assurance (Massey University)
Nutrition for Food Technologists course by the NZ Nutrition Foundation

Professional involvement:
Fellow, NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology
Member, American Oil Chemists Society
Committee Member, NZIC Oils and Fats Specialist Group (www.oilsfats.org.nz)
Annual Royal Easter Show Taste Panellist for Olive and Specialty Oils

Food Technology Consultant: Contracting and consulting for varied clients, mainly in New Zealand.

Main product expertise areas: Oils and fats, salad oils, spreads, commercial frying oils, bakery confectionery, beverages, sauces, snack foods and vegetarian, vegan and keto foods. Can assist with all stages of product development including recipes, ingredients sourcing and specifications, bench scale samples, pilot (intermediate) scale samples, label, nutrition panel and ingredients list development, process and packaging development, factory trials, first production oversight, shelf life trials, product specifications (product information forms) and product reviews.

Experienced hands-on pilot plant developer and operator. Process development and improvement in conjunction with an engineering colleague if required. Can assist with planning improvement trials, data and sample collection and analysis of same.
Has run internal staff training courses, and presented at workshops and conferences in New Zealand and Australia.

Past roles: Chemical analyst, quality assurance manager, product development manager, food industry consultant (6 years) and food technologist.

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