Role of market research in product development

Identify needs (problem, need, opportunity)
 - find the target market

Economic viability
 - will the product make a profit
 - will the product survive in the market

Consumer Feedback
- surveys
- ask at shopping centres
- consumer feedback
- sensory tests (samples, formal testing)


Promotion of new products

Marketing Mix

• product (ingredientsm processing, packaging, brand name)
• price
• promotion (adavertising, sales, sponsorship..)
• distribution

promotional techniques - competitions, advertising, celebrity endorsements, displays, shelf position

Emerging technologies and new food products

New developments are evident in

• farming and cropping methods (egGM foods)
• food packaging (eg cryovac)
• distribution (eg computerised ordering)
• flavours and additives (eg.........)
• more food outlets (eg Aldi, internet shopping)

Product testing and evaluation

Revision

Reasons for developing new food products
(bored with the old, consumer demand, changes in the law)

• market concerns (health & nutrition - low salt, fat...)
• technological developments (microwaves, coffee machines...)
• increasing company success (innovative products, line enhancemants, copy cat)
• consumer demand (packaging, serving sizes, tamper evident devices)
• special applications (camping, ration packs, space foods, airline meals, medical)
• market changes (aging, household sizes, multicultural)

Impact of pasat and present food product innovations on society. SEEN

• socio-cultural (fridges, preparation, ready made sauces, ...)
• economic (more income/less time, prepackaged....)
• environmental (packaging, sustainability, vegetarian...)
• nutritional ( morbidity/mortality, heart didease, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, stroke, diabetes, obesity)

Steps in product development
PRODUCE

(Ice cream video)

testing/evaluation

You will be assigned a number to taste test a product.
Come up with a checklist of criteria that will help you evaluate the product.

suggestions to get you started....
do you like it?
is it different?
taste
texture
aroma
appearance
noise (crunchy, fizzy...)
cost