Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Interests
Personal Information
referees
Timeline
Generic
NICHOLUS WAMBUA MUSYOKA

NICHOLUS WAMBUA MUSYOKA

Food Technologist / Strategic Leader
Nairobi

Summary

Accomplished Food Technologist and Business Leader with extensive expertise in New Product Development (NPD), Quality Management, Operations, and Strategic Business Growth within the FMCG sector. Skilled in product innovation, process optimization, cost reduction, and regulatory compliance, with a strong track record of improving operational efficiency and driving business success. Currently leading operations and production efficiency improvements, achieving over 50% labor cost reduction while boosting productivity. Successfully developed and commercialized 20+ new products, led co-packing initiatives, and implemented quality control measures that reduced customer complaint resolution time by 76%. Proven ability to streamline manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and optimize resource utilization for increased profitability. Holds an MBA in Strategic Management and a BSc in Food Science and Technology. A strategic thinker with expertise in project management, budgeting, and business development, committed to innovation and operational excellence in food manufacturing.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of Allfruit Operations

Premier Foods Ltd
12.2024 - Current
  • Reduced labor costs from KES 3.6 million to KES 1.6 million per month by optimizing workforce allocation, implementing automation, and enhancing machine efficiency.
  • Increased daily productivity from 150 drums (215kg each) to 210 drums (215kg each) of mango puree, achieving higher output without increasing labor costs.
  • Reduced the labor force by 20% while maintaining production efficiency through strategic workforce planning and process optimization.
  • Implemented cost-cutting strategies, including energy efficiency measures, raw material waste reduction, and optimized shift scheduling, leading to significant savings in operational expenses.
  • Implemented effective Human Capital Management strategies, optimizing workforce utilization, skills development, and performance-based incentives.
  • Enhanced leadership and shift coordination, ensuring smooth operations and improved employee engagement.
  • Trained and mentored staff, boosting productivity and reducing errors in the production process.
  • Reduced waste and improved commercial yield, maximizing resource utilization and increasing profitability.
  • Streamlined production processes by identifying bottlenecks and introducing lean manufacturing principles to cut costs and enhance efficiency.
  • Ensured seamless shift transitions through structured workflows and clear communication, minimizing downtime and improving output consistency.

Head of NPD

Premier Foods Ltd
01.2024 - 12.2024
  • Led new product development projects and provided budget guidance to the organization on OPEX and CAPEX requirements, ensuring project viability.
  • Led co-packing initiatives, advised on profit and loss decisions, and assumed additional responsibilities in these roles.
  • Enhanced product offerings to align with market demands while preserving original quality and integrity.
  • Chaired NPD meetings and collaborated with management to discuss project progress, challenges, and future plans in project management.
  • Led and drove the Kitchen-based Product Development process according to the business strategy.
  • Collaborated with Technical, Process, and Operations teams to align through the stage & gate process.
  • Collaborated with Ingredient Sourcing Specialist and Packaging Technologist to ensure timely availability of raw materials and packaging for product development and submissions.

Quality Manager

Sokowatch Ltd
01.2022 - 01.2024
  • Satisfactorily advised, guided and solved customers quality issues and continuously onboarded new customers boosting the company's key business - sales.
  • Trained and mentored new customers on the online acquisition of products and quality handling of the products while in their stores.
  • Developed and commercialized 11 new products (Food and Non foods) in two brand names; Smart pick and Kwetu in the East African Market.
  • In strategic leadership, promote collaboration in departments through interdepartmental cross-function facilitating cost cutting in extra employments thus promoting profit maximization.
  • Reduced the customer complain lead time from 21 days to 5 days (from receipt of the customer complain to closure).
  • Created and implemented SOP, policies and work instructions in the Wasoko warehouse and Private Label department.
  • Implemented quality procedures and strategies to reinforce New Products compliance with regulatory and standard bodies.
  • Developed and implemented a process validation program that ensured product conformity to standards in the warehouses.
  • Developed and implemented quality control (QC) procedures that reduced the number of defects among the products in Wasoko Warehouses.
  • Monitored and updated supplier process control plans to ensure compliance with specifications and industry standards.
  • Maintained accurate records of all quality assurance activities, resulting in improved traceability and compliance.
  • Successfully led the first batch validation at the suppliers factory for all Wasoko Private label products.

New Product Development Lead

Premier Foods Ltd
01.2019 - 12.2021
  • Developed and commercialized over 20 new products in the East African market ranging from sauces, juices, spreads, honey, syrups and canned products through research, lab trials, product sensory evaluations, regulatory and standardization certification for the products.
  • Maintained the company's new projects pipeline and advised the management on the budgets and costs implications of different projects in the decision making phase.
  • Establishing and developed the NPD department from scratch.
  • Through discussions, proposals and justifications on the importance of NPD department, the management accepted to fund the establishment of the laboratory.
  • Through research, benchmarking and collaboration with other departments, the lab was equipped.
  • Renovations and championing use of readily available raw materials.
  • Example replacement of the imported lemon ginger base with ginger from Kenyan farm.
  • Implemented change managements in the tomato paste lines to solve the challenge of bulging of the sachet packed tomato paste.
  • Human capital development in the NPD department where within the period I was at Premier foods, the NPD team grew from 2 to 5 personnel and strengthened ties through collaboration with other departments.
  • Training were successively done to the production team every time we were commercializing a new product so that they can handle the manufacturing fully without challenges.
  • Maintained the company's formulations database and new products development processes all through the trial and launching stages.
  • I was positively appraised for the good performance and awarded bonuses, pay rise and letter of recognition by the company.
  • Cost cutting- did market survey on prices of our raw materials like onion.
  • Buying direct from farms saved the company KES 600,000 PA on onions only.

Senior Production Supervisor

Centrofoods Industries Ltd
12.2017 - 12.2018
  • Supervised and trained all production interns successfully, held discussions with their professors on their progress and recommended them for employments.
  • Improvement in productivity from 7 batches to 10 batches per shift which led to abolition of production on Saturdays and the casual workers got a pay rise of KES 50.
  • Through teamwork we developed Wow drinking chocolate and wow drinking cocoa.
  • Production efficiencies were improved by ensuring machine maintenance was thoroughly done on Saturdays.
  • Ensured a safe and efficient production environment by following up on the maintenance of all production equipment.
  • Maintained production records, including production reports and logs.
  • Maintained and updated production logs to track production statistics and performance data.

Quality Control Chemist

Golden Africa K. Ltd
01.2017 - 12.2017
  • Developed and maintained a database of quality control information, allowing for real-time access to quality data.
  • Implemented a quality control process that improved product quality.
  • Implemented quality control measures to ensure product quality standards were met.
  • Ensured inspection of quality aspects on packaging, proper labeling and stacking of the final products in the warehouse.
  • Trained and assessed interns in the quality control laboratory on analytical procedures.
  • Laboratory analysis of quality parameters of edible fats, oil and soap: raw materials and finished products.
  • Sensory evaluation of the finished products, packed products and the packaging materials.
  • Inspection of quality parameters in edible oil and shortening online filling and soap production.

Education

MBA - Strategic Management

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Techno
Nairobi, Nairobi Province, Kenya
06-2025

Bachelor of Science - Food Science and Technology

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Techno
Juja, Kiambu District, Kenya
06-2016

Certificate of Higher Education - High school Diploma

Isovya Secondary School
Nunguni, Makueni District, Kenya
11-2011

Skills

Strategy and Planning

Leadership

Budgeting and Planning

Project management

Excellent negotiation skills

Business development and sales management

Client Relationship Management

Innovations

Interests

Attending food innovation expos and industry forums

Mentoring young professionals in food science and manufacturing

Exploring sustainable food production and process optimization

Playing tennis and hiking

Personal Information

Driving License: TDB-ACC2052

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholus-wambua?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B6Ya5%2BL8vS%2BOGfmI3zolu4g%3D%3D

referees

Available on request

Timeline

Head of Allfruit Operations

Premier Foods Ltd
12.2024 - Current

Head of NPD

Premier Foods Ltd
01.2024 - 12.2024

Quality Manager

Sokowatch Ltd
01.2022 - 01.2024

New Product Development Lead

Premier Foods Ltd
01.2019 - 12.2021

Senior Production Supervisor

Centrofoods Industries Ltd
12.2017 - 12.2018

Quality Control Chemist

Golden Africa K. Ltd
01.2017 - 12.2017

MBA - Strategic Management

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Techno

Bachelor of Science - Food Science and Technology

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Techno

Certificate of Higher Education - High school Diploma

Isovya Secondary School

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NICHOLUS WAMBUA MUSYOKAFood Technologist / Strategic Leader