NEXT-GEN SPICE SEASONINGS

NPD Team

At the heart of innovation, our New Product Development (NPD) team are the flavour scouts and culinary strategists behind every bold idea.

Armed with insights from global Food Safaris, Supermarket Sweeps, and deep-dive research papers, they explore, analyse and distil trends into actionable concepts. Each idea is rigorously trialled across a range of meat blocks to test versatility, performance, and consumer appeal.

Only the strongest survive this flavour gauntlet. After countless tastings and tweaks, a carefully curated shortlist emerges — primed for the final seal of approval from our Development Chef.

Food Safari

Our way of tracking down the next big flavour

Throughout the year, our team takes part in Food Safaris — organised flavour-hunting trips designed to uncover the trends shaping tomorrow’s products.

We explore restaurants, street food, retail launches, and emerging concepts, tasting and recording everything from classic profiles to the unexpected. Each stop offers insight into new flavour combinations, innovative ingredient use, and consumer-driven claims that could influence your next product.

What We Look For

• Flavour innovation — creative combinations and bold taste profiles
• Ingredient opportunities — hidden heroes with functionality or health appeal
• Market signals — cues from menus, retail shelves, and global cuisines
• Practical inspiration — ideas that can translate into production-ready solutions

Why It Matters

• First-hand insight — the best way to track food trends is to experience them directly
• Customer focus — understanding what consumers will be looking for next
• Actionable outcomes — bringing back ideas that can be developed into bespoke blends and seasonings for your products

From Safari to Solution

Every Food Safari ends back in our development kitchen, where insights are transformed into tailored seasonings and mixes. This ensures that what we discover out in the market becomes a practical advantage for our customers. Sharing the Benefits

Seats on a Food Safari are limited, but every customer benefits from the insights. The flavours we taste, the trends we track, and the notes we gather all inform the work we do — helping you stay one step ahead in flavour innovation.

Meet FREDA

To stay ahead, you need more than outdated data or vague insights. That’s why we developed FREDA — our in-house flavour forecasting tool, designed specifically for the UK and Irish markets.

FREDA tracks the latest launches, product ranges, and flavour innovations to give clear, actionable insight into what’s trending now and what’s coming next. Built by Foodmaker, used by our team, and shared with our customers, FREDA helps turn flavour trends into opportunities.

What FREDA Tracks

• Burger and sausage ranges across major UK retailers
• Pies, pasty's and savoury pastries
• Snack and crisp flavours for cross-category inspiration
• Product positioning, claims & ingredients (plant-based, low-fat, premium, etc.)
• Weekly updates to keep pace with fast-moving trends

Why It Matters

With FREDA’s insight, you can:
• Plan NPD with confidence
• Identify flavour trends before they hit the mainstream
• Respond quickly to shifts in consumer demand
• Stay competitive across sausages, burgers, and beyond

Turning Insight into Action

Every week, FREDA equips our development and sales teams — and our customers — with the knowledge to innovate faster and smarter. Whether it’s refreshing a core range or exploring new categories, FREDA makes sure you’re ahead of the curve.

Talk to us for a demo or request a tailored report — and see how FREDA can give you the edge.

Foodmaker's Exclusive Forecast

At Foodmaker, our dedicated team of Development Specialists sits at the heart of flavour discovery. With over 60 years of combined experience, they’re passionate about staying ahead of the curve—tracking, analysing, and forecasting the trends that will shape tomorrow’s tastes.

Our bi-annual Flavour Forecast is designed to support your innovation flight path. It highlights the most influential trends across the market—giving you the inspiration and direction needed to spark new ideas and drive product development.

At Foodmaker, we don’t just predict trends — we bring them to life.

Download

Development Chef

At the heart of Foodmaker’s innovation is our resident Development Chef, Andy Benn — a culinary craftsman who brings ideas to life and transforms trend insights into flavourful, functional reality.

As a key member of the team responsible for identifying emerging food trends, Andy takes the theory and turns it into tangible, mouthwatering concepts. With years of experience, he ensures each blend not only meets the brief but excites the palate.

Customers interested in exploring new concepts or enhancing existing products are invited to choose from our bespoke development menus. These are designed around your specific needs — whether you’re innovating for a retail launch, foodservice application, or ready meal solution.

Visiting our dedicated development kitchen in Corby is more than just a meeting — it’s an immersive experience. Expect a hands-on presentation, packed with theatre and wizardry, as Andy showcases new flavour concepts and creations. The session culminates in a professional tasting where every detail — from aroma and mouthfeel to visual appeal — is considered.

Come see innovation in action. Book a development session and let’s bring your next big idea to life.