Grocery Special Edition

Hi peeps!

What brought me to my choice of field of study is the continuous addition of new products on the shelves of our groceries.  I have always been intrigued by all of the innovations, new flavors, new way to cook or to present food on our dinner table.  You guys remember green ketchup? to add fun in the of your kids? Why did it not last? Why did they thought of launching such a weird idea?

Thus, I decided to start a special edition in my blog covering different aspects in the groceries of our area.  Studying Food Chemistry and working in the industry makes my view a little different from the general public.  I will be reviewing different new products as some of them may sound creative and genius while others are plainly funny.  I will also cover different marketing scams on the labels that are meant to attract customers to buy their products.  Other topics such as private labels and ambience music and scent in grocery stores will be covered.  These articles will be short and sweet. Hope you guys will like it! Feel free to give me any suggestions or comments!

Thanks!

How does a new product land on your grocerie's shelve?!?

As some you know, or not, I graduated in Food Chemistry from McGill University.  I worked for two summers as a Quality control student at Kraft Canada. Yes yes yes. The one that you see when you are waiting in the traffic on the 40 ;) The one that produces the infamous Kraft Dinner and Cheez Whiz. 

There is two Kraft plants in Montreal. One in Mount-Royal and another one near the Olympic stadium on Pie-IX.  Mount-Royal's plant is the largest one in Canada producing Kraft Dinner, Mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, Peanut Butter, Salad Dressing, BBQ sauces, Philadelphia cream cheese, Cheez Whiz and Singles. The other plant is a bakery cooking the yummy oreos and soda crackers.

After my graduation, I was lucky enough to score a position in Research and Development in the cheese department which is based in Mount-Royal.  That is, I am taking care of the Natural Cheese (Petit Québec, Cracker Barrel), Process Cheese and Cream Cheese. I am mostly responsible for innovations or new products.

So how does a new product land in your grocery? Here is how it all works: