Driving Operational Innovation in the Dairy Manufacturing Sector

Food production is not just about what ends up on the shelf. It is a high-stakes balancing act where precision, speed and quality all have to play nice. In Turkey’s dairy scene, Mehmet Aktepe is one of the key people making that happen. As Head of Production at Lactalis Group, he is the kind of leader who knows how to keep operations sharp and innovation moving forward. His background spans over seven years across engineering, operations and procurement, and he brings that experience into every challenge with a mix of technical confidence and smart, forward-thinking strategy.

Aktepe joined Lactalis Group in June 2022, bringing a deep understanding of dairy manufacturing and a proven ability to streamline complex production systems. Now, he’s running the show, overseeing the entire dairy manufacturing process at one of the world’s most recognised dairy companies. His mission is clear: enhance efficiency, maintain top-tier product quality and align production processes with the global standards Lactalis is known for.

Under his leadership, the production team has adopted more agile and data-driven practices, enabling better responsiveness to market demand and reduced operational bottlenecks. Aktepe’s hands-on approach and commitment to excellence have optimised day-to-day production and contributed to the long-term strategic goals of the organisation. With competencies in product design, process improvement and production analytics, he has successfully championed innovations that drive both quality and scalability.

Before joining Lactalis, Aktepe built a solid foundation at Aynes, where he spent nearly five years mastering the intricacies of fermented dairy products. His role evolved from Production Engineer to Fermented Dairy Products Supervisor, and eventually into cross-functional responsibilities that included procurement and production reporting. This multifaceted experience gave him an indepth understanding of the dairy supply chain, from raw material sourcing to final product delivery—skills that now serve him well in his current executive role.

Looking back, one of Aktepe’s standout strengths has always been his ability to bridge the gap between technical expertise and leadership. With a degree in food engineering, he never saw himself simply as a manager. Instead, he aimed to create a culture of continuous improvement, where quality and safety were non-negotiable. His time as a Food Engineer with the Turkish Armed Forces further refined his discipline and attention to detail, traits that remain crucial in today’s highly regulated food industry.

However, Aktepe’s story is not confined to dairy. Earlier in his career, he also served as Head of Operations at LookBookHoliday.com, a travel company based in Fethiye. Although in a different industry, this role sharpened his leadership and project management skills.

At Lactalis, Aktepe’s leadership reflects a vision that aligns with the company’s global objective of delivering high-quality dairy products while constantly pursuing process innovation. His proactive mindset, ability to inspire cross-functional teams, and relentless pursuit of improvement make him a key player in Lactalis Group’s regional and international success.