About Forward Food Solutions

What are people saying?

Elise is an extremely creative problem solver. A lot of people get stuck within their own “formula,” that is not Elise. She makes herself available and is open to the sharing of ideas which has facilitated solutions that we didn’t see when we started the process but became clear through the open exchange of ideas with a focus on the solution.
-Slade Crooks, Founder/President Document Compliance Network & foodguys

Elise Forward's experience in the food industry spans over 20 years. She started her career in the food industry in the quality assurance laboratory at one of the Campbell Soup facilities. Here, she had the opportunity to get involved with the ISO 9001 implementation team.

This along with the great support, training, and mentorship she had led her to a career in quality and food safety. As Elise grew in her knowledge, so did her involvement in the quality management of the facility. This included:

Sanitation and GMP audits
HACCP and ISO audits
Typical analytical and microbiological lab analysis of many food products

Her next adventure led her to a processor of refrigerated potato products. This was a great experience to see a different type of production environment and philosophy.

Elise Forward

Elise's next stop in her quality and food safety journey led her to an importer and distributor where she served as the Quality Manager overseeing all quality and food safety related issues.

She had the opportunity to build the company's quality and food safety systems from the ground up and implement a strong supplier verification program.

Importers and distributors are the middle men of the industry, which provides some unique opportunities and challenges. Some of the situations Elise was involved in include the following:

Creating a HACCP plan that spanned multiple companies, production facilities, and states.
Controlling the quality of the food safety of the product during transportation around the globe.
Working with countries on six continents.
Assisting companies in lesser developed countries improve their quality and food safety systems in order to supply product to the United States and Europe.
Developing and implementing a cross-departmental domestic and foreign Supplier Verification Program.
Oversight of Organic, Kosher, Fair Trade, Non-GMO Project certifications.

More recently, Elise launched Forward Food Solutions to be able to reach more companies. Her unique experience allows her to help importers, transportation companies, food manufacturers, and laboratories improve their quality and food safety systems. Elise's passion is food safety and quality, so do not hesitate to contact her. She has a network of professionals she will rely on if her areas of expertise to do not meet your needs. Forward Food Solutions offers:

On-Site or remote consulting

Training (PCQI, FSVP, etc)

Speaking Engagements

Forward Food Solutions works with companies of all sizes and stages. Whether small or large, start-up or well established, Contact us to find out how we can provide solutions to your challenges.

The nitty gritty details:

Elise has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Wartburg College and additional training from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in quality systems and statistics. Her memberships include:

Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
International Association of Food Protection (IAFP)
Midwest Food Processors Association (MWFPA)
Wisconsin Association for Food Protection (WAFP)