READERPROFILE
as told to Karen Kroll
Oil’s Well That Ends Well
RESPONSIBILITIES: Overseeing supply chain operations, production, maintenance, and capital expenditures. EXPERIENCE: Vice president, operations; operations manager; and engineering manager, all with Pompeian; continuous improvement intern with Colgate-Palmolive. EDUCATION: Université de Technologie de Compiégne (UTC); mechanical engineering, industrial reliability, and quality. SALIM BENJELLOUN is vice president of operations at Pompeian Inc., a leading brand of olive oil, vinegar, and cooking wine. Founded in Baltimore in 1906, the company produced America’s first national brand of imported extra virgin olive oil.
I was born and raised in Morocco, and then graduated from college in France. I came to the United States and joined Pompeian in September 2013 when I was 23 years old. I came to the United States thinking I spoke decent English, but I really didn’t. I started in the maintenance department on a team of experienced mechanics, where I had no experience and a language barrier. The company trusted me, but gaining the trust of the department was more of a challenge. To gain their trust, I focused on consistent, hard work combined with pride and love. Every day I worked longer hours, as I wasn’t yet thinking about having kids or buying a house. I did this because I wholeheartedly agreed with Pompeian’s values. We offer a good, healthful product and are doing good for farmers, consumers, our employees, and the planet.
meaningful and continuously do good for people. Food is one. People will always eat and drink, and value can always be added there. It’s also easy to become passionate about the food industry, especially olive oil because it has a long history and provides many health benefits. In many countries, it’s on the table like salt and pepper. Additionally, manufacturing skills can transfer from one company to another. I think of engineering as learning how to solve things. That’s the part I enjoy, as well as systems and process changes. These are also what drew me to supply chain. There have been a lot of positive changes and growth across Pompeian. The company is family-oriented and culture-driven. We care about families, food and the planet, and I’m proud to be a part of it. n
In this company, every employee matters. Knowing all of this means I can go through challenges and difficult days with pride. When I return home, I still smile and feel the same satisfaction as when I started. I was lucky that I was given a challenge and I embraced it. Before Pompeian, I held an internship with Colgate in France, where I was able to see a large-scale production operation. Colgate also inspired me, when I was choosing my career path, to look at what I like to do and what type of businesses will remain “I think of engineering as learning how to solve things. That’s what drew me to supply chain.”
10 Inbound Logistics • March 2024
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