SEATTLE — Michelle Tittl has been named a senior culinologist at CuliNex, LLC. She joins the clean label food development consultancy’s product development team alongside Jacqueline Sarmiento, who was named culinologist III.

Ms. Tittl brings more than a decade of product development experience from private label, consumer packaged goods and ingredient companies. She previously was a senior product developer for Starbucks Corp.’s core beverage unit. Before that she was a deli and foodservice product development scientist at Target Corp. and a research and culinary manager at American Sugar Refining Group.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in food science from the University of Wisconsin and an accelerated culinary arts certificate from the Culinary Institute of America-Greystone.

In her new role, Ms. Tittl will help CuliNex create innovative clean label product solutions for its clients.

“Team collaboration is a hallmark at CuliNex, and with her strong technical knowledge, Michelle’s leadership contributes to our success every day in the lab,” said Webb Girard, senior director of research and development at CuliNex.

Ms. Sarmiento brings eight years of experience in frozen food and fresh produce innovation, as well as quality control management. She previously held positions at Overhill Farms and Ready Pac Foods/Bonduelle Fresh, where she helped integrate international teams with new innovations and sustainable packaging.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology from California State Polytechnic University.

In her new role, Ms. Sarmiento will work with clients researching and evaluating ingredient functionality, innovative technologies, consumer trends, packaging innovations and supporting co-packer testing.

“We are lucky to have Jacqui join the CuliNex family,” Mr. Girard said. “Each day she brings her ‘A’ game with enormous curiosity and willingness to find solutions to our clients’ challenges.”

Founded in 2005, Seattle-based CuliNex is a consulting firm that provides product development and strategic business services focused on clean label food products. It works with clients ranging from emerging brands to multibillion-dollar companies to innovate new concepts through commercialization.