Discover the Saputo experience

Olivia Jansé

Quality Assurance Manager

Specialty Cheese Group
Québec, Canada

I’ve worked for Saputo since early 2005. I had previously completed a three-year special training course in France on international cheese-making, followed by a stint in research and development in the yogurt and soft white cheese sector.

During my cheese-making studies, I was attracted by the dynamic character of Québec’s cheese industry, as well as the career opportunities offered to young graduates. I decided to get more information on the cheese industry in that province and, due to its excellent reputation in Europe, Saputo appeared to be the best choice for me.

Since then, I’ve been responsible for quality assurance of finished products throughout the production line, so that all products may meet our customers’ specifications. I also travel extensively to provide as much on-site input as possible, both in our plants and at our customers’ installations.

Besides quality assurance, I’m also responsible for new product development, design and recipe optimization. This particular aspect of my work requires excellent synergy between the plant teams, as well as the marketing and sales teams. Indeed, our teamwork is the key to our success when the time comes to launch a new product.

I love my work and especially enjoy the research and development aspect most of all. I’m given a lot of room to flex my creative muscles, but get to work closely with our cheese-making teams in the plants. Everyone shares their ideas and know-how to come up with a new recipe, then product development continues with the selection of packaging materials, marketing strategies, etc. This creative process spans the entire production chain, from the plants to the sales floor. It’s so satisfying to see a project finally get launched in stores! This is a very enriching experience, and doubly so when these products actually win awards!

I also love Saputo’s culture, where initiative and professional projects are encouraged. This not only creates a myriad of opportunities for advancement between departments, but also between divisions. Furthermore, Saputo’s plants spread across many countries, offering many career opportunities, which should interest those who are not afraid of a little change of scenery.