1. Eriks Mikelsteins
A. Caka iela 39-3
Riga, Latvia 1011
371 2637 5968
emikelstens@gmail.com
Profile
• Thirty years experience in the fresh produce industry selecting, delivery, and
inventory/quality control – all aspects of perishable commodity control
• BAA – Ryerson University - 1986
Professional Experience
Rimi Baltic Group, Riga, Latvia
• Private Label Quality Manager
• Senior Buying Manager for fruits and vegetables
• Senior Quality Specialist for distribution center 2008 – 2014
The Great Atlantic Pacific Tea Company of Canada/Metro, Toronto Canada
• Quality Assurance Manager 2001 – 2007
Morris Brown and Sons Inc., Toronto, Canada
• Quality Control Manager 1990 – 2001
• Receiver, Shipper, Inventory Control
Dominion Citrus & Drugs, Ltd., Toronto, Canada
• Shipping and Receiving 1984 – 1990
Education
BAA, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada 1979
Commitment to Food Safety Quality Assurance
• Participated and compiled results of product taste-testing
• Completed Ontario Produce Marketing Association quality control seminars
• Completed United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association/United States
Department of Agriculture Produce Inspection training program
• Monitored production facility for re-packaging fruits & vegetables for retail & food
service industries
• Implemented best-before-date shelf-life program to provide feedback to produce
procurement division and suppliers
• Monitored 26 banana room ripening program; ripening and shipping 6-10 loads
daily to over 240 stores
• As Senior Quality Manager worked in developing and bringing to market Rimi
private label products
2. • Oversaw the delivery and distribution of fruits and vegetables to Latvia, Estonia
and Lithuania
• Implemented central sourcing plan for produce procurement in the Baltics
Commitment to Health and Safety
• Completed and reported results of audits of suppliers of dry goods and fresh
foods
• Coordinated Workplace Safety Insurance Board legislated safety audits
• Chaired Health and Safety Committee meetings
• Identified potentially hazardous foods in the supply chain to ensure correct
temperature during transfer of goods
Commitment to Organization and Innovation
• Reviewed and implemented specifications for new products
• Trained store produce managers and distribution center personnel in best
banana receiving practices and general produce quality in Canada and the
Baltics
• Developed and implemented a computer compatible produce tracking and quality
control system
• Implemented digital photography system to accompany house inspections using
Canadian Food Inspection Agency and United States Department of Agriculture
inspection criteria
• Trained personnel in best quality control & receiving practices
• Received, inspected, and shipped over 675 million dollars worth of produce per
annum to stores
• Scheduled, hired & directed staff
• Improved and expanded daily Distribution Center quality checks
• Implemented comparison charts indicating competitor offerings
• Participated in HACCPP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Planning)
implementation team
Commitment to Leadership
• Managed the quality assurance department in the distribution centre for 240
store A&P/Metro chain.
• Industry liaison with Ontario Produce Marketing Association, Canadian Food
Inspection Agency, and The Good Food Alliance during restructuring of the CFIA
Destination Import Services division.
• Liaison between Procurement Division and Distribution Center
• Promoted more inspection to ensure inbound quality in the Distribution Centre
Languages
• English
• Latvian
