Maria Real Tortosa

Maria Real Tortosa is the Lead Food Technologist at Libre Foods. Previously, they were the R&D Project Manager at Granizados Maresme from February 2021 to October 2021. In this role, they co-led the implementation of the new R&D lab and Production plant.

Some of their responsibilities included leading R&D formulation of slushes and soft drinks including sugar/sweeteners PAC/POD modifications when needed, flavour application and legal status revision of new ingredients. Maria was also the sensory lead regarding new formulations and also improvement of the company's current portfolio of products, adapting 20 year old products to the current trends, modifying and acquiring a more suited flavour profile. Additionally, they were responsible for new supplier contact, order management and set up of a new production/ingredients/order database.

Other responsibilities included production management including design of manufacturing processes and participation in new productions, spotting possible bottlenecks and critical points. Maria also designed and implemented the HACCP System, ensuring correct manufacturing practices. Additionally, they led the production team and provided continuous formation. Lastly, they managed, rolled out and coordinated between R&D, Production and Quality departments.

Some of their other accomplishments include stability (Sensory and Shelf life) assessment of the current and new formulations as well as microbial bibliographical revision and coordination/dispatch of samples for the subsequent final product Micro analysis. Maria also developed test protocols on current and new packagings (drop test and leak test on doypack).

Maria Real Tortosa has a postgraduate degree in management of food safety and quality from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Maria also has a master's degree in food development and innovation from Universitat de Barcelona. For their undergraduate studies, they majored in gastronomy sciences and culinary arts at Mondragon Unibertsitatea. Maria also has certification from Elsevier in Eurosense 2020, Cambridge University Press in CEFR B2 in English, Mondragon Unibertsitatea in HACCP: Design and Application in Food Systems, and Alliance Française Madrid in DELF A2.

Maria Real Tortosa reports to Alan Iván Ramos, Founder & CEO. Maria Real Tortosa works with Navya Shiva Prakash - Business & Operations Associate, Anne Reshetnyak - Fermentation R&D Associate, and Clara Fernandez Morales - NPD Food Technologist.