Employee in the spotlight: Umut Canli

Meet Umut Canli! Ten years ago – in 2012 – he graduated from the Middle East Technical University in the Food engineering Department. His career started in the dairy industry as a production engineer. After a while he swapped dairy for bakery goods and became a sales professional. Three times a charm: now Umut changed sectors again and joined Kemin Food Technologies to convince clients of the power of our natural alternatives for food safety and shelf-life solutions. We are very happy to have him on board as our new Technical Sales Manager!

Can you tell us more about your job at Kemin? What does it involve? 

At Kemin Food Technologies we have a very diverse assortment of food solutions. The first part of my responsibilities is to understand the challenges my customers are facing so I can match them with the right product. Analyzing their needs is one part of the job. On the other hand, the suggested solution must contribute to the vision of their business. So, it’s important to keep in mind which natural solution fits them best. To be able to build long-term relationships with customers it’s crucially important to build a bond of trust first. 

Kemin is a huge global company, with a local approach. What do you like best about your employer?

Even though Kemin is a global company, you don’t feel like you’re just another number among the other employees. If you have a good idea – a product or project – you get the freedom to execute it. Even if it goes beyond your responsibilities. And that’s not even the best part: during the execution of your idea, you’ll get the full support of your team and managers. They help you to improve the initial concept. The result? You’re not only proud of your job, but at the same time you can continuously improve yourself. In short: Kemin allows me to grow and to become the best version of myself. For me continuous learning is very important. 

Do you already have a favourite Kemin segment or product?

I’m really excited about our newest development: RUBINITE™. For two decades nitrites have been used to cure meat and to ensure the red to pink colour of meat products. Because of controverse on potential negative effect of nitrites on your health, the market has been searching for alternatives to replace nitrites for a long time. Our 100% nitrite free RUBINITE™ is the perfect label-friendly alternative for the meat industry. I strongly believe Kemin has found a unique solution and a revolutionary innovation with RUBINITE™. 

What challenges do you face in your daily work? 

For me my biggest challenge is to help increase awareness about natural food solutions. The food industry has been relying on a lot of synthetic fixed solutions – like antioxidants and antimicrobials – for a long time. It can be challenging to convince clients that our natural alternatives accomplish the same effect, especially in my region. Therefore, I believe it’s a very positive evolution that the demand for clear labels is growing among customers. 

What about outside of work? How do you like to spend your time?

Ever since high school I’m a very passionate guitar player. I’ve been a member of different bands, so I’ve had the opportunity to play lots of different genres of music. When I’m not making music, I absolutely love to be outdoors. In my spare time you can see me ride my motorcycle. Chances are big I’ll be on my way to a beautiful spot in nature. I’m very passionate to go hiking and to make camping trips.