Raphael Oluwaseun Samson is the Founder and Principal Food Safety and Quality Consultant at Fresh Group, bringing over 5 years of multidomain experience in food science and technology, where he passionately leads initiatives to enhance food safety and quality management systems across the food industry. Raphael’s academic journey includes earning a Professional Degree of Expertise in Planning and Launching Business Operations from the Finnish Institute for Enterprise Management in 2021, complemented by a Master of Science and Technology in Food Development from the University of Turku, Finland, where he delved into research on the fundamental effects of ingredients on starch rheological properties important for infant nutrition in the Nordic countries. Before this, Raphael obtained his Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, where he conducted groundbreaking research on the engineering properties of Ogi indigenous staple food consumed in West Africa, including innovative solutions for preservation and commercialization.

‌In his professional endeavors, Raphael has made significant contributions, serving as a Food Safety Expert at Nestlé Finland, where he managed technical food safety audits and hazard analyses resulting in a remarkable reduction in customer complaints and substantial cost savings. His role as a Project Lead at Nestlé involved spearheading research initiatives to address textural inconsistencies in baby food products, ultimately leading to product rebranding and generating over several million Euros in sales. Additionally, Raphael gained valuable hands-on experience as a Brewing Trainee at Heineken Breweries, Plc., Lagos Brewery, where he immersed himself in the production operations of alcoholic and non-alcoholic malted beverages.

‌Raphael’s interdisciplinary expertise encompasses food processing, food safety, food quality management systems, food chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, sensory evaluation, and food engineering. His effective teamwork and exceptional communication skills enable him to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams, delivering prime-quality results. Certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute (PMI), and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), Raphael seamlessly integrates knowledge from diverse engineering fields to optimize food production processes, positioning himself as a dynamic leader in ensuring food safety and quality throughout the food supply chain.