Guru Hari Khalsa

Consultant | Guru Food Design

About

Summary: Most CPG brands fail not because the idea was bad, but because the development and scale-up were flawed. I help you get it right the first time. With over 40 years of experience in food and beverage manufacturing, I bridge the gap between creative culinary art and rigorous food science. As the founder of Guru Food Design I act as a consultant and Product Mentor. I help brands navigate the complexities of product design, from the first prototype to full-scale commercialization.My expertise is built on decades of work with the world’s largest food companies, yet my passion lies in agile innovation. Whether we are optimizing a formula in the kitchen or troubleshooting a production line at 3:00 AM, my goal is to ensure your product hits the market with the highest possible sensory appeal and functional integrity.Core Capabilities: • Concept Development & Product Design • Formulation Optimization (Texture, Flavor, Function, COG) • Manufacturing Control Planning & Scale-Up • Co-Manufacturer Identification & Troubleshooting • Reverse Engineering & Competitive Benchmarking • Experienced Product & Business Mentor.Ready to move from kitchen to shelf? DM me or visit website 📧 guruhari@gurufooddesign.com 🔗 www.gurufooddesign.com

Country

United States

City

Eugene

Industry

Food & Beverages

Skill

Product Development, Strategic Planning, Management, Marketing Strategy, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Leadership, Public Speaking, Food, Food Science, Team Building

Experience

Consultant | Guru Food Design

Guru Food Design

2017-1 - Present · 9 yrs 9 mos

Eugene, Oregon Area

• https://www.gurufooddesign.com/ Develop food and beverage products for health-wellness CPG brands, supporting project-based initiatives. • Conduct market research, analyze trends, and translate insights into innovative product concepts. • Lead product development process from ideation to commercialization, ensuring high quality and cost-effectiveness.

Founder & Chief Innovation Officer | Almetta Foods Company LLC

Almetta Foods Company LLC

2014-1 - 2017-1 · 3 yrs 1 mo

Eugene, Oregon Area

• Spearheaded all aspects of R&D, Quality Assurance, and Technical Services. • Led product and package development, manufacturing process design, and commercialization strategies. • Developed and executed the Almetta brand identity, sales approach, and channel strategy for natural/mass and foodservice markets.

VP Global Research and Development | East West Tea Company (Yogi Tea)

East West Tea Company, LLC (Yogi Tea)

1993-8 - 2012-12 · 19 yrs 5 mos

Eugene, Oregon Area

• Led product innovation for herbal tea bags, bottled beverages, and aseptic products, achieving over $120M in annual sales. • Managed product development from concept to launch, including botanical research, ingredient sourcing, and claims substantiation. • Collaborated with Marketing to perform consumer-driven market research and develop successful Yogi Tea products for US and EU markets. • Established world-class quality standards for suppliers and co-manufacturers, driving operational excellence. • Cultivated cost savings through reformulation, yield improvements, and supplier sourcing strategies.

Director Technical Services - R&D and Quality Assurance | Golden Temple of Oregon LLC

Golden Temple of Oregon, Inc.

1982-8 - 2007-7 · 25 yrs

Eugene, Oregon Area

• Led a team of 15 R&D professionals in the US and EU, developing and commercializing products for private label brands like Trader Joes, Kraft, Target, etc. • Oversaw technical sales activities, including client acquisition, pricing, prototyping, production scale-up, and commercialization. • Managed innovation across ready-to-eat cereals, granola, energy bars, herbal supplements, and HABA products, generating over $40M in annual sales. • Implemented food safety and quality control programs, ensuring compliance with FSMA and Dietary Supplement regulations. • Led food safety audits in manufacturing facilities and developed internal food safety plans.