Empowering food professionals for global food system transformation with Kaan Demiryürek, R&D Director for Sustainable Packaging at PepsiCo | Ep 88

2024-04-24

On today's episde we are talking about the Kaan's career journey, his book "Food for Thought" and philosophy. About Kaan Demiryürek Kaan Demiryürek is the Research and Development Director for Sustainable Packaging at PepsiCo. Pepsico products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo's food portfolio includes products such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream.

On today's episde we are talking about the Kaan's career journey, his book "Food for Thought" and philosophy.

About Kaan Demiryürek

Kaan Demiryürek is the Research and Development Director for Sustainable Packaging at PepsiCo. Pepsico products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo's food portfolio includes products such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream.

Kaan has over two decades of career experience working at PepsiCo in food science, engineering and R&D spanning multiple geographies. Kaan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Food Engineering from the Middle East Technical University and His first role at Pepsico was as an R&D intern in Turkey. Since then he has worked in various business units in Europe (Turkey, Balkans, and East Europe) and North America across different foods categories. Before his current role in sustainable packaging Kaan led the R&D team for Potato Chips for North America.

Links

Show Notes
Kaan Demiryürek's LinkedIn
PepsiCo
Food for Thought: Food Science and Engineering for the Future of Humanity by Kaan Demiryürek
How modern science is turning our foods into medicines | David Julian McClements | TEDxAmherst
Dr.David McClements Webinar for The Good Food Institute
Kaan's email

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(1:52) Kaan introduces himself and career history

(5:36) Difference between food engineering and science

(7:00) Why Kaan transitioned to sustainable packaging

(12:52) Discussion about "Food for Thought" Book

(20:00) Philosophy and R&D

(25:13) Sponsor: CareersNow!

(30:17) Importance of curiosity

(34:55) Prioritization in work

(42:00) Advice for inspiring food professionals

(45:39) Outro