Meet Reshma Malick – Safeguarding Food Safety And Quality At Every Step Of The Hellofresh Journey

Reshma’s day-to-day is anything but ordinary. The role of the food safety team is to predict risks before they happen, always thinking ahead and preparing for worst-case scenarios so customers never have to. This includes auditing suppliers, checking quality of new ingredients, reviewing packaging, or brainstorming emerging industry risks with her team. Food safety is also embedded in innovation, meaning one of her team is always present in product meetings to ensure new ideas align with quality and food safety standards.

Over the years she has built a team from scratch, nurturing interns who later rose to management roles, and now focuses on mentoring and strategy. “I’ve done the groundwork. These days it’s about supporting the team and building the next generation of leaders. Coaching and mentoring are one of the best parts of my role and seeing people progress in their careers is incredibly rewarding.”

One of the projects Reshma is most proud of was supporting an intern who was promoted and entrusted with introducing a warehouse management system project that gave full traceability to every product entering the distribution centre. “If something goes wrong, we know exactly where it came from and which box it went into. It was a huge milestone for food traceability, and it was led here in New Zealand.”

Reshma says what gives her the most satisfaction is knowing that her work stretches beyond the HelloFresh box. “For me it’s about making sure that what’s on the dinner table is safe and that families are eating food that’s high quality and safe for consumption. That’s something extraordinary to be responsible for.”

Of course, there are challenges too. Packaging is a constant focus, with HelloFresh investing in improvements and ensuring sustainability, production, and food safety teams are closely aligned. One example is ice packs, where new technology was introduced to calculate and include the optimal number in each box.

“Many people don’t realise how critical ice packs are to food safety, however we’ve worked hard to reduce ice packs without compromising food safety . New Zealand was one of the first countries to launch a dynamic system where the number of ice packs is customised to the weight of each box. It’s complex, but it means we can protect customers while reducing packaging.” Behind the brand, she wishes more people knew about HelloFresh’s unique culture; a truly supportive environment that feels like family. “You can talk to anyone, regardless of their title. There are no closed doors, no egos. People support each other, whether they’re on the same team or not.”

She’s equally proud of HelloFresh’s community partnerships. Working closely with KiwiHarvest, surplus food is donated rather than wasted. Food safety is built into this process too, ensuring that donations are handled and stored correctly. “Even though it’s going to charity, we put in the same effort as we do for paying customers. That makes the whole team proud.”

Looking ahead, Reshma sees exciting opportunities for the brand – from sustainability initiatives to menu variety – but it’s technology that excites her most.

“Predictive analysis using AI could be transformational for food safety. It reminds me of when computers first replaced typewriters. At first people were scared, but soon it became normal. I think AI will be the same, it will help us prevent problems before they occur.”

When asked about her favourite HelloFresh recipe, she smiles. “I can’t go past the honey soy glazed salmon with garlic rice and ginger greens. It’s simple but so delicious.”