Quality adds major value to our business model

Quality as the foundation

As Global Quality Director, Soete sees quality as the foundation for everything Rousselot does.

“Quality is no longer just about final inspections. At Rousselot, we see quality as a driver of efficiency and value,” says Soete. “While we cannot precisely quantify the financial impact of quality, our data confirms that it does much more than just reduce claims or achieve the right sensory profile. Quality enables us to optimize processes, improve efficiency and stay proactive. It helps us deliver solutions that outperform competitors. At Rousselot, quality isn’t just a cost-saver—it’s a revenue generator. It's part of our business model.” 

“Quality starts where compliance ends”

With a long history of prioritizing quality, Rousselot continues to raise the bar.

“When I was a kid playing with Lego, Rousselot had ISO 9000-1 certification,” Soete recalls. "We’ve consistently upheld outstanding food safety standards, which should always be the top priority. But beyond compliance, we ask: What’s next? I always say that quality starts where compliance ends. That is where Rousselot’s Quality Mindset comes in—the program we introduced to elevate quality across the entire company. To achieve this, we need everyone, every day, working together to uphold the highest standards.”

Adopting a quality mindset 

“We want quality to be second nature, like putting on a seatbelt or washing your hands,” says Soete. “That’s why the Quality Mindset is largely about motivation. It involves three key steps: First, understanding what needs to be done (the brain). Second, having the skills to execute it (the hands). Finally, making quality a habit (the heart). Quality is not just a box to check; it is a shared responsibility. Engineers, production staff and drivers all play a role in making the right decisions and keeping their commitments.” 

Exploring quality together

Company-wide initiatives, such as the annual World Quality Day, help reinforce this mindset.

“In November, our 2024 Quality Day focused on how every individual at Rousselot can contribute to quality,” says Soete. “We launched initiatives across all our plants and produced a short film outlining practical steps for quality improvement.”

For a global company spanning four continents, these events are vital for fostering communication and transparency.

“As Global Quality Director, I want people to know and trust me. If there is an issue, they should feel comfortable reaching out. Cultural differences exist—teams in Europe, Asia, North America and South America may approach quality discussions differently—but building confidence and strong networks is key. That’s why I often visit plants and spend time with the people on the front lines who keep our company running.”

Soete saw this firsthand when Darling Ingredients acquired Gelnex Gelatin.

“I made sure to visit the plants, meet people, explain my philosophy, ask questions and learn from staff. Open discussions help me understand what is happening on the factory floor. Real quality thrives on connection and trust. At Rousselot, we operate like a family, and the way we have integrated has been amazing—it exceeded my expectations. 

Going the extra mile with sensory excellence

One area where Rousselot goes beyond compliance is sensory performance.

“Taste, consistency and aroma are crucial for delivering the best collagen-based ingredients to our customers,” explains Soete. “We benchmark sensory performance by analyzing samples scientifically. Sensory evaluation is no longer subjective—we can precisely match what our customers expect with what we deliver. We have made huge progress in just a few years.” 

“For example, a customer recently raised concerns about a batch’s sensory performance. After testing, a Sensory Expert confirmed it met our usual standards. But we did not stop there. Through discussions, we discovered that an additive the customer was using affected the taste. By recommending a slight reduction in the additive, we resolved the issue—demonstrating how sensory excellence and technical support go hand in hand. This is what a Quality Mindset is all about: taking everything to a higher level.” 

Taking quality further

Initiatives like the Quality Mindset, Sensory Program, and our “quality as business model” approach help us consistently deliver the high-quality products our customers expect while continually refining our processes.

“By embedding quality into every step of our operations, and continuously reassessing what quality means, we open doors to new opportunities and a stronger future. I am excited to see where quality will take us and our customers next,” Soete concludes. 

Learn more about Rousselot’s commitment to quality and explore insights from our team.