This Month: Meet Laura – From European Roots to Quality Leadership at JFS

At Joseph Flach & Sons, we are always excited to highlight the diverse talents and unique experiences that each member of our team brings to the company. One such team member is a Quality Supervisor who joined us in 2020 and has since become an integral part of our operations. Originally from the beautiful mountains of Transylvania, Romania, she has combined her background in biology and agronomy with a passion for quality and continuous learning.

Join us as we get to know more about her journey, her contributions to JFS, and the personal and professional qualities that make her a standout member of our team.

Can you introduce yourself, your background personally and professionally?

I was born in a small town in the beautiful mountains of Transylvania, Romania. With my parents’ support, I moved away to continue my studies and earned a degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s in Agronomy, focusing on farming and Agri-tourism in mountain areas.

Ten years ago, my husband and I moved to the UK to explore new cultures and opportunities, not knowing that we’d eventually build our own family here. We started out in Boston, Lincolnshire, where our friends helped us settle in, and after two years, we moved to Peterborough to make commuting easier.

Over the years, I’ve worked in various roles, including as a Team Leader in the food industry and in Quality Control for cosmetics. In 2020, I joined JFS as a Quality Technician and I’ve grown with the role ever since.

What are your best personal qualities and how do you feel these have impacted the business and culture at JFS?

I was the youngest employee when I first joined the company, and I like to think I brought a fresh perspective and new energy. I’m always open to change and eager to learn new skills, and luckily, I found the right people to guide, support me and to learn from.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Christmas dinner …just kidding!

My favourite part of the job is the opportunity to continually learn and grow (e.g. the opportunity to pursue a Level 5 NVQ in Management and Leadership not only gave me the chance to learn what management really is, but also allowed me to meet great people, the support and guidance I receive from Jo, the knowledge about products and their quality from Karen etc).

Whether it’s tackling new challenges, improving processes, or collaborating with different teams, I love that there’s always something new to discover. I also really enjoy being able to contribute to quality improvements that make a tangible difference, knowing that my work directly impacts the success of the company and the satisfaction of our customers.

I like to bring a little positivity and joy to the team.

What are you most proud of at JFS?

I am very proud of the culture we’ve built and the growth we’ve achieved as a company. We have raised our quality standards, and the positive results of our hard work to meet each accreditation speak for themselves. We are now UFAS, ISO 22000:2018, BRC Storage and Distribution, Soil Association Organic, and Kosher certified. When I joined, we were ISO 22000:2018 and Kosher accredited, and I had never participated in an external audit before.

An interesting fact about yourself?

An interesting fact about me is that I went caving during my third year of university when my class went to explore the nature and botany around us. We camped overnight, and caving was one of our experiences for the next day. To reach the centre of the cave, we had to crawl through mud and very tight spaces, but the chamber and view we found were definitely worth it.

Favourite place you’ve ever been?

I haven’t been to many places, but I can say that Taormina, Sicily is definitely one of my favourite places.

Favourite meal?

Definitely pizza, I love everything that is Italian, and I’m very fond of sweet pastries like croissants.

What do you do for fun?

I meet up with friends, enjoy good food and drinks, and dance.

When you joined JFS, what were your top 3 aspirations for the company?

I wanted us to be that kind of good company that everyone knows about and wants to work for, to respect our roots, be the best at what we do and be recognised in our industry for our quality and build friendly and trusted relationships with our customers and suppliers.

What is JFS doing to reduce carbon impact?

We transport goods all over the world, so we cannot avoid having a carbon footprint. However, our products are all natural and do not harm the environment. Some of us are already using electric vehicles, and most of our packaging is reusable. We recycle on-site, using different waste bins for various types of waste. Inevitably, in the coming years, more electric vehicles will be used, leading to a lower global carbon footprint.

Is Global Warming impacting supply of products, if so which?

It is hard to say which products are more affected by global warming, as more natural disasters are occurring at the source. This is a widespread issue, and we have already seen an increase in prices and short supply. Also, we are now more aware of food fraud and contaminants, which makes some products harder to purchase.

What products do you expect to see growth in sales over the next 5-10 years?

I think the remedial herbs will increase in sale due to their various health benefits and easy usage, with just pouring hot water on it.

Probably dried elderberries because of the increased awareness of its effectiveness against respiratory illnesses and immune boosting properties especially after the pandemic.  Being a mum, I have heard so many conversations lately about the elderberry syrup or gummies for kids to increase their immunity system during winter period and more and more people are using it. Also, Milk Thistle seeds are known for its detoxification properties.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for JFS, and how have you overcome it / doing to overcome it?

From my quality point of view, the biggest challenge is ensuring product food suitability and compliance with legal requirements and safety limits, which is not very straightforward. Food fraud is on the rise, and the risk of product tampering is increasing. To address these challenges, we are continually investing in our quality system and conducting research to source and bring healthy and safe products to market.

Smelliest product?

Garlic powder which actually I don’t mind as much as Bladderwrack or Ascophyllum powder

Favourite product?

Vanilla pods, I love the smell and it is my favourite flavour

Most expensive product per gram?

It has to be saffron

Most popular product?

I would say Nettle herb cut

Most interesting product and why?

Spirulina powder has a bright green colour. It is considered a superfood because is a great source of protein, calcium, potassium and phosphorus needed for good bones. It is also a source of iron and magnesium essential for energy release and lower cholesterol levels.