This week we are joined by Julianne Ponan, our special guest who is an allergy expert and the founder of Creative Nature.

Julianne recounts her personal experiences with food allergies and we discuss a harrowing anaphylactic incident involving ex-Love Island star Jack Fowler due to miscommunication about food safety on a flight.

The discussion transitions to the risks associated with peanuts and other allergen-containing products on airplanes. Julianne emphasises the need for airlines to adopt stringent measures to protect passengers with severe allergies. We also highlight positive steps taken by some airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic offering allergy-friendly snacks.

Julianne speaks on the importance of education and awareness, especially among children in primary schools. Lucy remarks that children tend to see allergies factually and without prejudice—an observation underscored by Julianne’s organisation, which offers allergy education programs to reduce bullying and promote understanding.

Listeners are invited to join the Oh For Foods Sake community Facebook group to deepen their engagement and share their experiences.

In closing, we encourage listeners to rate and review the podcast, helping to expand its reach and impact.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and addressing technical difficulties

02:30 - Welcoming Julianne Ponan

05:45 - Julianne’s personal experiences with allergies

10:20 - The risks of peanuts and nuts on airplanes

14:00 - Positive airline safety measures and Virgin Atlantic's efforts

18:25 - Educational programs for children on allergy awareness

23:15 - The importance of advocating for allergy safety

28:00 - Julianne’s TED talk on living with allergies

35:10 - The impact of mislabelling and importance of clear “free from” labels

40:50 - Awareness and inclusivity in the food industry

45:30 - Julianne’s efforts to improve safety on a global scale

50:15 - Closing remarks and call to action: joining the community and rating the podcast

Links and Resources:

Julianne Ponan Ted X Talk: https://youtu.be/ZqSHMsQt7Yo?si=9kKiL0NyCv06lCxe

Juliane Ponan Website https://creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk/

Website Link: https://ohforfoodssake.co.uk/

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ohforfoodsake

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oh-for-food-s-sake/

You can follow us here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oh_forfoodssake/

For industry consulting from Lucy, connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Find her on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation from Amy.

See you next time!

In this engaging and eye-opening episode, we begin by addressing the perception problem that plagues New Product Development (NPD) teams in the food industry.

We stress the significance of the NPD role, which other departments often misunderstand and undervalue. We share our frustration over common misconceptions and the unseen effort that goes into creating successful food products.

We talk about the delicate balancing act of cost versus quality. With the current economic climate, inflation, and supply chain issues, product developers face unprecedented pressure to maintain product standards while cutting costs.

We shed light on the complex decision-making process that involves adhering to regulations, staying profitable, and delivering consumer satisfaction.

The topic of ever-changing compliance and guidelines emerges next. With new additives, HFSS regulations, and nutritional standards constantly evolving, NPD teams must stay agile and informed. We touch on the environmental and sustainability concerns that add another layer of complexity to roles.

We emphasise the need for businesses to support their NPD teams in this regard, promoting sustainable practices without compromising on product quality.

Interpersonal skills and cross-functional relationship management are other focal points of the discussion. NPD professionals must wear many hats, from dealing with suppliers to working with the technical team and managing factory logistics. We argue that these skills are critical and often underappreciated in the industry.

Finally, we discuss the growing challenge of finding and retaining the right talent in NPD teams. We point out a worrying trend of professionals moving out of the industry or shifting to other roles due to mismatched expectations and a lack of awareness about the realities of an NPD career.

The episode concludes by urging businesses to offer better training, support, and representation for NPD at the board level.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: Importance of product development in the food industry

[00:37] Amy's perspective on undervaluation in NPD

[01:56] Lucy shares her experiences and challenges as a product developer

[03:44] Discussion on the complexity of product development

[05:03] Hidden aspects of NPD: Balancing cost vs. quality

[06:12] The pressures of cost management and quality control

[07:24] Division of responsibilities in NPD teams

[08:45] The custodians of quality: Role of NPD teams

[10:07] Tension between cost reduction and maintaining quality

[12:15] Ever-changing compliance and guidelines in the food industry

[14:33] Sustainability concerns and their impact on product development

[16:33] Showcasing the final product: The unseen chaos behind the scenes

[18:10] Managing cross-functional relationships and expectations

[18:51] The importance of interpersonal skills in NPD

[20:01] Mismatch between expectations and reality in NPD careers

[21:16] Addressing additional responsibilities placed on NPD teams

[22:33] The impact of economic downturns on NPD jobs

[23:33] Importance of support and representation for NPD teams

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://ohforfoodssake.co.uk/

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ohforfoodsake

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oh-for-food-s-sake/

You can follow us here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oh_forfoodssake/

For industry consulting from Lucy, connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Find her on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation from Amy.

See you next time!

This episode explores the essence of market research within the food industry. We start by discussing how real-life context and the right methodologies are crucial in gaining accurate insights for decision-making. Jules highlights the limitations of relying solely on consumer feedback and stresses integrating this with practical, real-world contexts.

Next, we delve into the future of market research, touching on technologies that enable continuous consumer engagement and natural response collection. We discuss the importance of understanding both qualitative and quantitative data and how their integration can provide a fuller picture for making informed decisions.

We also discuss the broader context of consumers' lives, like seasonality, and its impact on their preferences.

Later, Jules shares her journey within the field of market research, emphasising her love for curiosity and working from the agency side. She talks about the merger of Cambridge Market Research with Good Sense Research and introducing new product testing techniques.

We wrap up the episode by emphasising the importance of understanding the audience context in qualitative research, particularly for products and packaging development. Ethnographic research is spotlighted for its ability to capture natural consumer behaviours, while the continuum from qualitative to quantitative research is explored to ensure a holistic approach to understanding market needs.

Timestamps:

00:03:45 Real-life context in market research and its significance.

00:08:22 Integrating consumer feedback with practical considerations.

00:12:10 Future directions in market research technology.

00:16:55 Continuous consumer engagement and "closeness community."

00:21:30 Seasonality and its effect on consumer preferences.

00:26:15 Jules Green's career journey and role at Good Sense Research.

00:30:45 Qualitative vs. quantitative research: Definitions and applications.

00:37:00 The need for context in research findings.

00:42:20 Ethnographic research methods explained.

00:47:55 Jules Green's insights on affordable fruit-flavoured lollies.

00:52:00 Final thoughts and importance of expert interpretation in research.

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://ohforfoodssake.co.uk/

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ohforfoodsake

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oh-for-food-s-sake/

You can follow us here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oh_forfoodssake/

For industry consulting from Lucy, connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Find her on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation from Amy.

See you next time!