New food product development: strategies for success?

Abstract

This paper seeks to evaluate the ideas of six new product development (NPD) theorists and their associates. These include those who have developed their theories with particular reference to the food industry and the development of new food products. Their ideas are contrasted with non‐food specific theorists; these include those interested in the management of new products and those involved in marketing who have recognised the important role that NPD plays in any business. A further viewpoint is taken from theorists who are interested in NPD per se and who use food, on occasions, to illustrate their ideas. This research identifies different theories and recognises that there is very little consensus as to the right and wrong way to manage the process of product development. Indeed theorists name and number their various stages or phases differently with some advocating five while others believe eight steps to be more appropriate. This research concludes that an organisation should not be tied to one particular model but should take on board the basic fundamentals of a food‐based model (theory) and adapt and amend it to their particular situations as and when they develop new food products.