Jamal El Gueddari
Production CoordinatorI have to thank UNIVEG's corporate culture for my promotion.
In 2002, Jamar El Gueddari started off with a temporary contract at Legumex Trade in Sint-Katelijne-Waver (Antwerp Province, Belgium) which eventually turned into permanent full-time employment. In his first position, he was an Operator on the fresh mushroom packaging line. Later, when personal reasons prompted a move to Tournai (Hainaut Province, Belgium), he had the opportunity to switch to the Hot Cuisine team.
“At Hot Cuisine, I started off as an Operator labelling fresh lasagne. A few years later, I noticed there was an opening for a Production Coordinator. I applied for the job and got hired after a few internal interviews. What a step up the corporate ladder! I’m now responsible for the efficiency and optimisation of eight different production lines, from gratining potatoes to making lasagne to sterilising meals.”
Depending on customer orders, Hot Cuisine Ghent lets the Tournai branch know what needs to be prepared for that day. “Together with my team of around 16 Operators, I make sure everything gets done — on time, and in accordance with our strict quality and hygiene standards. I also recommend improvements in our processes and carry them out.”
Jamal claims he has to thank UNIVEG’s corporate culture for his promotion opportunity. “Contrary to what you might expect from such a big company, UNIVEG offers plenty of room to grow and encourages us to take on responsibilities. In addition, the company is a frontrunner when it comes to innovation, whether it’s the latest production technique or a new fresh meal concept in the case of Hot Cuisine.”