Food Product Development 7 stages

Food Product Development 7 stages

Higher Health and Food Technology

Reasons for developing a new food product

• Technological developments in food production.

• Changing buying powers of the consumers.

• Changes in lifestyle of consumers such as: ethnic foods, food trends and snacking.

Stage 1 - Concept Generation

• "Thinking stage"

• Find gaps in the market.

• Development of ideas from analysing products already currently on the market, perhaps even trialling of popular existing products.

• e.g. look into why certain flavours of products currently on the market are successful.

Importance of this stage

• Without this stage the development strategy can't be made.

• Ensures the product is a niche in the market, making it more likely to be successful and appealing to target consumers through the research made to see what consumers want in a new product.

Watch this video for more information on food product development - start at 1:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8IBLptVoIg

Stage 2 - Concept screening

• Important stage!

• Allows initial ideas from previous stage to be developed further.

• Bin some ideas.

• Manufacturers make some specifications.

• These specifications allow eliminations of ideas that might be too expensive or difficult.

• Product idea is generation - prototype can now be made...

Importance of this stage

• Allows best ideas to be put forward to the prototype production stage.

Stage 3 - Prototype production

• This is the example of what the product will be like.

• Tasted by target consumers which allows them to gather feedback and make further changes to the product.

• Product is based around the brief and specifications made by manufacturer.

Importance of this stage

• The prototype is tested for appeal and may be further modified or rejected to optimise success of the product and help to increase sales.

Stage 4 - Product testing

• Product is tested on various social groups.

• Product can still be eliminated at this stage!

• Most suitable product will be kept.

Sensory testing is important because...

• So the product can be compared to competitors.

• To assess shelf life of the product.

• To carry out quality control.

• To reduce cost without affecting taste.

• To investigate why one product is more popular than another.

Watch this short YouTube clip on sensory tasting

https://youtu.be/ADAHz-7QRGA

Stage 5 - First product run

• This process allows for the actual item to be made in bulk for the first time and it's suitability is assessed.

• Item is released for the first time.

• If ingredients need altered in the product, so will the packaging of the item.

• Packaging is investigated and tested.

• Quality assurance team test product for quality and see if it fits the standards that need met.

Importance of this stage

• Ensure uniformity of standards during manufacturing.

• This stage is crucial as it affects many other stages e.g. having to change labelling.

Stage 6 - Marketing plan

• The legal and advertising teams begin to develop the important work in relation to selling the product.

• Promotions decided.

• Price is decided (e.g. is it going to be low cost - a shop own brand, or high cost - luxury product).

• Packaging is finalised.

• Where to sell the product is decided (e.g. supermarkets, farmers market, positioning of the product within the shop).

Factors to consider when marketing a product - 4 P's

• Packaging

• Price

• Place to be sold

• Promotion of product

Stage 7 - Product launch

• Item is now on sale.

• Sales figures are closely monitored in a small area initially.

• Get quick feedback in case changes need made, these changes will be made before the product is released on a bigger scale.

Importance of this stage

• The product can be continuously refined and any improvement needed can be made to help maximise the sales of the product.

Recap - overview of all stages

• Concept generation - think of unique idea for product

• Concept screening - best idea taken forward

• Prototype production - tested on consumers, modifications can be made

• Product testing - tested on social groups, best product taken forward

• First production run - item released, ingredients can be changed if needed and packaging is tested

• Marketing plan - decide where it will be sold, how much for etc

• Product launch - item is now on sale in a refined area, changes can be made if needed

Revision quiz

5 questions including multi-choice and open ended questions.

Multiple Choice

What stage involves testing the product on various social groups?

• First production run

• Product testing

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the manufacturers make specifications on the product?

• Concept screening

• Concept generation

Multiple Select

Click all boxes which apply to the Marketing Plan stage

• Promotions are decided

• Quality assurance team test product to ensure quality meets necessary standards

• Packaging is finalised

• Positioning of the product in the shop is decided

Open Ended

Write down some ideas of what would be discussed in the CONCEPT GENERATION and PROTOTYPE PRODUCTION when creating a new crisps product