John Burns Email & Phone Number

Austin, Tx, Us

Currently responsible for Food Safety, Quality Assurance and Standards across all products and facilities. Whole Foods has more than 500 stores in the USA, Canada and the UK, has a network of distribution centers, and also operates its own food production facilities. The company has sales over $25Bn per year.I report directly to the Legal Team at WFM and am also actively involved with Amazon Food Safety and Quality Assurance executive leadership specifically working on business integration and growth strategies.All supply chain and private label initiatives related to food safety and quality programs are managed by our team. We have tens of thousands of suppliers delivering grocery, meat, seafood, produce, specialty, beverages, dairy, supplements and bodycare items to us every day and all products have to meet our strict and industry leading quality standards. We also work extensively with small suppliers providing us with unique locally made products. The Wholefoods Market supply chain is very unique, innovative and cutting edge in terms of product development.We have developed industry leading standards in terms of seafood sustainability, animal welfare, organics and have strict restrictions company-wide around the use of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, all of which have to be maintained and assured. We have strong industry relationships with trade organizations, regulators and suppliers and are constantly pushing the envelope to develop the best quality products in a manner that is also conscious of the environment and the suppliers making those products around the World.Our team is also responsible for Private Label product quality and food safety information systems, incident management, traceability initiatives, and responsible sourcing.

Austin, Tx, Us

Directly responsible for the start-up development of all quality assurance and food safety programs for our multi billion dollar Private Label (PL) portfolio at Whole Foods Market.Aligned all suppliers to newly established KPI's. Lead the cultural change towards product excellence with merchandising leadership and a complex International supply chain. Developed and rolled out all testing requirements, product specifications and third party auditing initiatives. Concurrently started to build the R+D team supporting PL and established the innovation kitchen at the company. Built the company wide incident management program. Aggressively drove down product defects and recalls which helped to grow sales and PL sales company wide. The PL division capped $3Bn in sales in 2020 and continues to grow and excel. It is regularly recognized as the top private label program in the Natural and Organics Industry.

During this entire period I worked full time for three organizations on short to long term large scale multi billion dollar consulting contracts:Accenture: Director of Quality Assurance for a State Of Texas government business process and IT outsourcing contract.Australian Government: Representative for the Australian Trade Commission in Texas.Affiliated Computer Services-now Xerox: Director of Training and Quality Assurance for a State Of Texas business process and IT outsourcing contract.

Manhattan, Ks, Us

This was a bridging position on my return to the USA after successfully building and running our International division in London for eight years.In this position I lead International Quality System deployments for blue chip Multinational clients. Primarily in the USA, but also in Canada and Latin America. Main focus was in water, drinks and packaging industries. Clients included companies like Perrier, Nestle, Cott Beverages and International Paper.

Manhattan, Ks, Us

Responsible for all day to day operations of one of the largest food safety and quality auditing companies in the World as it expanded its food safety audit and training business footprint outside of the USA. Hired and trained all food safety audit team members, set up sattelite offices and directed the business growth strategy as well as the integration of food safety audit disciplines for US based food producers in the EMEA regions. Had fiscal responsbility and oversight for the operation and managed all business certification functions. Grew the business successfully in all areas. Managed operations internal quality and consistency programs and was the primary interface between our USA headquarters and all of our International clients and business partners. Oversaw a number of key strategic partnerships during this period and brokered multiple largescale business opportunities with blue chip food, beverage and packaging companies. Lead the AIB / BRC interface team and participated in the steering committee for the development of the first BRC standards (Food and Packaging).

Manhattan, Ks, Us

Work with regional clients to learn the audit and training business prior to deployment to AIB International's European business based in London where my role was to work in our European office and assist with startup operations and eventually oversee all operations in that area.

St. Louis, Mo, Us

Hired as a production and quality assurance manager. Ralston Purina were head-hunting talent for their corporate leadership program. I worked in their food division, primarily with Wonder Bread/Hostess cakes. At that time, RP had the largest bakery program in the USA. I worked in quality and food safety leadership roles at two of their flagship operations, including the 1 Million square foot Philadelphia factory.

Dublin, Dublin, Ie

Responsible for contract R&D in the area of cheese microbiology with a focus on starter culture development and food production. I was responsible for running an R&D lab and a large dairy pilot plant. The objective was to develop and manufacture pilot scale cheese varieties destined for taste panels at European cheese competitions and trade shows. If the cheeses gained acceptance then the patents would be purchased and scaled up by large cheese production companies.

Amazon Director Graduate 2024, Executive Leadership

Master Of Science (Ms) - Higher Diploma - 1 Year Executive Program, Computer Science

Bachelors Of Science, Majored In Food Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Nutrition

Education record