Eurofins Survey: A look behind the scenes with Maryam Saeedi

Inspection and sampling across the globe

Written by Crista Herder

A conference call with an inspector in Chile or China: Maryam Saeedi regularly works very early or very late. As Business Development Manager at Eurofins Survey, she is in touch throughout the day with clients, inspectors, and suppliers across the food industry. These clients represent a wide range of nationalities, spread across the globe and multiple time zones. From the Netherlands, Eurofins Survey coordinates the inspection and sampling of cargo directly in the country of origin.

I speak with Maryam on a sunny Tuesday morning, by which time she has already put in a full day's work. What drives her in this role? And how does she, together with her team, guarantee quality remotely from Barendrecht?

I start the conversation in my best English. I am impressed by the calm and poise with which Maryam guides me into her world in fluent English. I ask how she ended up at Eurofins Survey. Her answer instantly transports me to the other side of the world.

“I was born in Iran,” she explains. “I grew up on a commercial horticulture farm. My father grew bell peppers and cherry tomatoes in greenhouses, depending on the season and market demand. As a young girl, I took everything in: the wonderful aroma of fresh tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouses, the bustling washing and sorting lines, and the moment the produce was moved into cold storage. I was able to follow the entire journey from start, cultivation, to finish, sales. It came as no surprise that I went on to study food technology in Iran.”

From lending a hand to a career opportunity

For her Master’s degree, she travelled to France, Italy, and Switzerland. Once back in Iran, she launched her career with a United Nations project mapping out the saffron supply chain from Iran to Europe. “After that assignment, I connected with a German entrepreneur looking to source local ingredients from Iran. He wanted to visit a spice supplier in Iran, and I assisted him. Afterward, he unexpectedly offered me a job as QA Manager in Germany! That led me to work for a start-up in Frankfurt developing a sustainable supply chain for herbs and spices sourced from Nepal, Iran, Tunisia, and Africa, destined for the European market.”

A Saturday interview

When Maryam later applied for new roles, finding an opening proved unexpectedly challenging despite her technical background, until she discovered the Eurofins network. “I applied for many jobs in 2019, but faced numerous rejections. Finding your footing in society can be harder when you have an immigrant background. I was invited to an interview at a Eurofins company in Hamburg on a Saturday. By Monday (just two days later) I was on board. I was amazed! I joined the international inspection team and spent the following years supporting clients with inspections and technical advice on meeting required quality standards during import and export worldwide, for example, during shipments from the Middle East to Europe.”

Challenges in global trade

Since 2022, Maryam has become an integral part of Eurofins LabCo in Barendrecht as Business Development Manager. “Our core focus is the handling and quality control of imported raw materials and commodities for diverse clients and destinations. Demand for our services is growing. Legislation governing food and feed in the Netherlands is exceptionally strict. However, our high domestic food safety standards also introduce commercial challenges. For instance, if an imported consignment of pistachio nuts contains elevated aflatoxin levels, it cannot be returned to the country of origin. Furthermore, re-export can be cost-prohibitive. In practice, non-compliant lots are often diverted to other markets with lower standards. That clearly requires a sustainable solution.”

“The strict food safety standards in our country certainly bring commercial challenges for trade.”

A sustainable solution

“I realise we cannot solve every global trade issue single-handedly,” Maryam continues passionately. “However, by organising inspection, sampling, and analysis directly in the country of origin, we provide a genuinely sustainable supply chain solution. We do this not only across Europe, but worldwide, from the Americas to the Middle East, often in regions where managing logistics is complex. We take care of that on the ground through our local network. We ensure samples reach the designated laboratory. Some clients operate their own internal laboratories; in other cases, we route samples to a Eurofins facility. Across our network, we provide an exhaustive analytical scope comprising over 200,000 analytical methods worldwide.”

“I realise we cannot solve every global trade issue single-handedly, but it is rewarding to offer a sustainable supply chain solution.”

Monitoring from Barendrecht

Our internal coordinators determine which local inspector or sampler to deploy. “We have partners across numerous countries worldwide. They typically speak the local language and understand regional business practices, making communication with local suppliers seamless. Our inspectors operate according to strict protocols tailored to specific commodities and product categories. The inspector or sampler captures detailed photographs, allowing our team in Barendrecht, as well as the client, to review everything remotely.”

Supporting more clients

Eurofins Survey is making it easier for clients to manage assignments digitally. “Order volumes have increased significantly over the past year, and our revenue has quadrupled. This is driven partly by heightened market demand due to tighter regulatory requirements, and partly by our expanded service footprint. Over the past year, we worked behind the scenes to automate our processes. Clients will soon be able to review reports via a digital portal and confirm orders online 24/7. Field inspectors receive clear scopes of work while our team maintains end-to-end oversight. This allows us to scale and support many more clients globally,” Maryam shares enthusiastically.

Consultancy and audits?

Automation is just one piece of the puzzle; Maryam has broader ambitions for Eurofins Survey. “I would like to expand our inspection network even further, to over 90 countries. I also want to offer our clients additional capabilities, such as consultancy and international hygiene audits. That requires thorough groundwork, including inspector certification. But it would make life even easier for our clients, and that is ultimately my goal.”

“I would like to expand our inspection network even further, to more than 90 countries.”

“I bring my work home with me”

“Together with my husband, I can spend hours watching documentaries or taking online courses on sustainability and global food supply chains. It sparks new ideas that I'd love to put into practice. We discuss these topics frequently at home, as my husband also works in the food industry. So yes, I definitely bring my work home with me,” Maryam laughs.

Listening

“I aim to learn something new every single day, not just from documentaries and online courses, but by listening to colleagues, field inspectors, and clients. I truly value listening to the people I work with. We achieve far more together than we ever could alone,” Maryam concludes.

Energised and inspired, I wrap up the interview and continue my workday, hoping it reflects a bit of Maryam’s drive and perspective.