Food Product Development

Utilise our tried and tested NPD protocol to realise great food product development and innovation time and time again.

What is food product development?

Food product development is the process of bringing a food product from concept to launch, whether it's a ready meal, a chocolate bar, or the signature dish at your favourite restaurant. Depending on your specific requirements, this journey demands more than just a few foodies. Aside from a seasoned operational and logistical professionals in running the day to day, it necessitates a well-rounded team of development and creative experts, including:

Product Developers

Food Scientist or Technologist are your products food alchemists, experts in food chemistry, formulation, food processing, and product development.

Development Chefs bring in the culinary vision, merging creativity and expertise into your venture.

Project and Development Managers Specialising in the financials, project planning and optimising the workflow.

Brand, Marketing & Content Creation

Brand Strategist develop compelling branding and marketing strategies to elevate your product's visibility and desirability.

Food Content Creators capture your product's essence through photography and visual storytelling making it stand out on your website and in advertisements.

Assembling this dream team can be a significant investment, which is why it's worth considering the option of hiring consultants with an extensive knowledge base spanning these diverse disciplines to bring your product vision to fruition.

Our approach to Food Product Development?

Conception

  • Market research

  • Benchmarking

  • Brand identity

  • Menu architecture

  • Innovation sessions

  • Concept development

In the initial conception stage, our focus is on the foundation of your food product. We delve into market research to understand your target market's preferences. Brand identity is crafted to give your product a distinct personality. Menu architecture is planned for a cohesive offering to bring your ideas to life.

Development

  • Procurement & supply chain

  • Operation specification

  • Recipe development

  • Tasting

  • Commercial sign off

The development stage is where your product starts to take shape. We handle procurement & supply chain to ensure ingredient quality and availability. Operation specification streamlines production processes. Recipe development refines your product's taste and quality, and tasting sessions fine-tune the final result. Commercial sign off seals the product's readiness for market.

Commercialisation

  • Content creation

  • Production trials

  • Technical specifications

  • Team training

  • HACCP & food safety

  • Product launch

Commercialisation is the stage where your product becomes market-ready. We create and execute content briefs to generate stunning marketing assets, ensure HACCP & food safety documentation is in place, finalise recipe books and technical specifications, and then train your team on-site so your product meets all standards before the exciting launch.

Ongoing Support

In addition to these vital stages, many of our clients choose to secure ongoing support through a retainer. This continued partnership guarantees the long-term success and growth of your product even after it hits the market. To name a few, GFS can be your acting: Development Chefs, Content Creators, Technical Managers, Procurement Team, Executive Chef, External H&S Auditors, Social Media Managers and Business Strategists. All from day 1 of your business rather than the substantial growth or investment needed to secure an equivalent team in house. 

Who we do food product development for?

Our food product development expertise extends to a diverse range of businesses in the food industry with our team having years of experience in, high-end restaurants, large-scale catering, food production, direct-to-consumer, FMCG and virtual kitchens, start-ups, and more.

  • Cafe food product development

  • Restaurant food product development

  • Retail food product development

  • Catering food product development

  • Fast food product development

  • Start up food product development

  • Centralised production food product development

Why choose us for food product development?

Whilst there are plenty of food product development consultants in the UK, we think we’re the best. If the below fit what you’re looking for, then get in touch with us:

Experts in the food industry

We know the food industry inside out and chances are we know your product, the competitive market and how to get you ahead of the pack.

Relentlessly Innovative

We’re no armchair consultants and we’re no one-trick ponies. innovation is in our DNA and we can make your first-to-market product happen.

Development Pipeline

Our unique development plan is tailored to your business needs, ensuring a constant and comprehensive NPD pipeline as diverse as your business.

Designed to Scale

We see where your business can get to and we have the knowledge and passion to get you there with product development that is compatible to scale.

Earned our Stripes

Our team has extensive industry experience, from opening restaurants, business growth, project management, professional chefs, content creators and food scientists.

 FAQs

  • We use our expertise to analyse the market, target the right audience, prepare a competitive price list, and develop sales presentation materials that will stand out in order to launch your product into the retail food market.

  • Whether we are starting from the idea stage or you need help taking your food product development to the next stage we can assist. Our team of experts provide the insights and knowledge base to take the indecision and stress away from you.

  • No two businesses are the same but whether you're running a café, restaurant, catering service, QSR or a centralised production unit, we've got the experience and skills to help your culinary business thrive, finding solutions to your unique needs

  • Of course! This is just one aspect of our development process, take a look at our service pages for more information:

  • Simply contact us through our website or by phone, and we'll schedule a consultation to discuss your needs and how we can assist your business.

Food product development case studies

Galeta Bakery

Prep Kitchen