Luna Paelinckx: Quality Manager

During her studies in Nutrition and Dietetics, Luna quickly discovered where her true interests lay. Although the clinical sector certainly intrigued her, she felt that her future was in the food industry. She quite literally took her first steps in the sweetest corner: with an internship in the world of candy. Not long after, she made the switch to… cherry tomatoes. A logical next step, if you ask her.

“A world full of colors, aromas, varieties, and sizes.”

On April 2, 2024, Luna started as a Quality Manager at Den Berk Délice, and from day one she was immersed in the fascinating world of tomatoes. She visited all the greenhouses, met enthusiastic colleagues, and received extensive training in tomato grading. In addition, she followed the entire process from plant to packaging. “A world full of colors, aromas, varieties, and sizes,” as she describes it herself.

The first few months were all about learning by doing. Active grading and testing were alternated with processing and administrative tasks, creating a varied workday. To further deepen her expertise, Luna followed several training courses. For example, she obtained her certification as an inspector, not only for tomatoes but also for peppers and chili peppers. If Den Berk Délice ever decides to make its assortment a bit spicier (pun intended), Luna is more than ready!

She also grew significantly in the field of food safety and quality standards. She learned the ins and outs of audits and gained a solid understanding of the broader quality framework within the company.

Taste takes center stage!

But Luna’s journey goes beyond personal growth alone. Together with Den Berk Délice, her role also evolved. Today, she leads a strong team of three QC assistants who are responsible for the daily quality control of tomatoes. Working flexibly with both Belgian and Moroccan products, all driven by the typical Den Berk Délice passion—it is clearly part of the team’s DNA. And you can literally taste that in the top quality of the tomatoes.

This focus on taste has received even more attention in recent times. Together with colleagues from different departments, Luna completed training as part of a trained tasting panel. Since then, they meet every two weeks to taste, analyze, and discuss. From comparing varieties and growing locations to testing new products: taste is central!

“Within Den Berk Délice, we strive every day for the best taste and highest quality,” Luna says. “It’s great to be part of a team that works together on products that enrich the market and truly surprise people.”