Product development process (concept, design, prototypes, evaluation, market research)

Product development process (concept, design, prototypes, evaluation, market research)

Product Development Process

  • Understand that the product development process is a series of stages that a food item goes through, from idea conceptualization to market launch.
  • Note that this process is crucial for ensuring that a food product meets the necessary standards before reaching consumers.

Concept

  • Learn that the concept stage involves coming up with a raw idea for a potential food product.
  • This idea may be inspired by various factors such as consumer needs, market trends, and potential business opportunities.
  • Remember that a strong concept is innovative, viable for commercialization, and aligns with the company’s brand and strategy.

Design

  • The design stage often follows the concept stage, focusing on refining the idea into a detailed product specification.
  • This involves outlining the product’s ingredients, nutritional profile, packaging design, and other key attributes.
  • Understand that the objective of the design stage is to clarify the product’s properties and set parameters for later stages, such as prototyping and evaluation.

Prototypes

  • Prototypes are initial versions of the food product, created based on the design specification.
  • They allow for preliminary evaluation and testing before large-scale production.
  • Realize that prototypes are invaluable for identifying potential flaws or improvements in the product’s formulation or design.

Evaluation

  • The evaluation stage assesses the prototypes’ performance against the original concept and design specification.
  • It could involve testing the product’s sensory attributes, nutritional content, shelf-life, and safety.
  • Recognize that feedback from the evaluation phase is used to refine and perfect the prototype.

Market Research

  • Market research is an essential part of the product development process that provides insight into consumer needs, preferences, and purchasing behaviour.
  • This research can dictate modification of product features and determine the potential success of the food product in the market.
  • A variety of methods are used for market research, such as surveys, focus groups, and analyses of sales data or competitors.
  • Remember that the findings from market research may lead to further adjustments of the product before full-scale production and launch.