Product Characteristics
You need to know about your product itself. Descriptive Sensory Analysis by a trained panel will generate objective data such as the measure of lotion stickiness or crispiness of the bagel chip. These analyses can be used for:
Create a Gold Standard Fingerprint
This is the unique profile that captures all of the sensory elements of the product at a point in time. The fingerprint is the historical benchmark of the perfect product. That profile will be the target profile throughout scale up to the final production.
Determine Shelf Life
When do aroma off notes begin to develop? How does freezing affect the texture over time? Enough said?
Make Advertising Claims
Descriptive analysis can be a powerful yet cost effective way of making product claims such as “absorbs faster” or “now with more chocolate flavor.”
Track Products Over Lifecycle
Routine evaluations of the gold standard products help protect against sensory “drift.” Over time, the cumulative effects of changing suppliers, processes, even key employees, can result in a changes product profile.
Compare Vendors
Saving money is important, but at what “expense?” We work with QSR and upscale restaurant groups to evaluate current product samples against those made by alternate vendors. If products are a match, the vendor can be approved. If further work needs to be done, the report will provide a sensory guide to achieving the match leading to approval!
Compare Your Product to the Competition
You know that a competitor is giving you a run for the money. Sensory evaluation of the products will reveal just how the products compare to each other.
Set standards for Quality Control
Quality control can reduce cost and increase profits, but first, you need benchmarks to determine what your QC procedures should be. 21st Sensory can help you establish protocols for setting up your complete quality assurance program.
New Product Development
Assumptions and guesswork have no place in the creation of a revenue-producing, quality product. 21st Sensory data will guide you from benchtop to final scale up.