NOVEMBER 20258IN MY OPINIONBY YOUNES JELLAL, HEAD OF SUPPLY, QUALITY & PRODUCT SAFETY, IMPOSSIBLE FOODSADVANCING FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY THROUGH INNOVATION & NURTURING LEADERSHIPYounes Jellal is the Head of Supply, Quality and Product Safety at Impossible Foods. He partners cross-functionality to support product development and innovation by assessing and qualifying reliable supplies and co-manufactures. He conducts thorough raw material risk assessments. Younes Jellal oversee Impossible Foods' supplier network from a food safety and quality perspective. He shared his expert insights and valuable thoughts for the 2025 edition of Food Business Review about the innovation and advancement in food safety and quality.From Managing Tasks to Truly Leading People My leadership philosophy was profoundly shaped by an early career experience and a specific book: Patrick Lencioni's "The 3 Signs of a Miserable Job." The book's central message--that employees feel miserable when they experience anonymity, irrelevance, and immeasurement--was a powerful revelation for me. It shifted my focus from simply managing tasks to truly leading people. This insight became the "why" behind every role I took on, as I sought to create environments where people felt seen, their work mattered, and they could clearly measure their own success.I applied this in a previous role as an FSQR Manager, where low morale and high turnover plagued the team. I combated Anonymity by holding one-on-one meetings to understand personal aspirations, addressed Irrelevance by connecting daily tasks to broader impact, and tackled Immeasurement by helping each team member define SMART goals. This approach resulted in a 90% reduction in turnover, increased product conformance (>98% Right the First Time), and a more engaged and collaborative team.These experiences shaped my current leadership philosophy through Empowerment: Knowing team members individually and trusting them with responsibility. Purpose: Continuously connecting work to a greater purpose. And Clarity: Providing clear, measurable goals for tangible accomplishment.This philosophy, born from a simple but profound insight, is what guides me in my current role as a Global Supply Quality & Product Safety Lead at Impossible Foods and is key to how I build high-performing and fulfilled teams.Balancing Innovation and Food SafetyMy approach to balancing innovation and food safety is based on three key pillars: a tiered risk-based approach, cross-functional collaboration, and proactive communication.High-risk materials (e.g., novel ingredients) undergo a rigorous qualification process (documentation, audits, testing), prioritizing safety. Low-risk materials have streamlined processes using questionnaires and supplier certifications (e.g., GFSI, ISO), speeding time to market. This ensures better-focused resources. I embed my quality team early in product development, fostering cross-functional collaboration. We identify risks early, recommend pre-qualified alternatives, and form integrated teams (R&D, Supply Chain, Nutritional Health & Safety, Regulatory) to ensure food safety is integral to design, preventing bottlenecks.Younes Jellal
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