Appetizing Innovation is offering food and drink business funding in the Yorkshire region following a chronic “lack of long-term investment”.
The project, which is supported by Yorkshire Forward, has brought together leading experts to support food businesses in their efforts to meet the demands of consumers and retailers by providing various solutions.
It is aimed at helping businesses at all levels of the 'Innovation Escalator', whether businesses are looking to take early steps in packaging or product innovation, or at the higher level of requiring collaboration for far-reaching research and development work for sophisticated long-term projects.
Seminars, workshops and special reports, as well as access to innovation surgeries and a new packaging materials resource centre, are all part of the solutions on offer through the initiative.
Led by Food Processing Faraday Partnership (FPFP), the project draws on the integrated experience of a consortium which can offer unrivalled expertise in food innovation and packaging developments. The four partners working alongside FPFP are Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Food Innovation, Leeds Metropolitan University, the Regional Food Group and Design Futures, a packaging innovation consultancy based at Sheffield Hallam.
Ian Blakemore, the regional manager of FPFP, who is leading the project, says Appetizing Innovation has the expertise to offer bespoke solutions for any company looking to develop ideas for products and packaging in the food and drink industry.
"We can help small companies with focused solutions or larger companies looking for specialist R&D staff to supplement their own innovation teams for more sophisticated projects. The consortium members all understand the mechanics of businesses and have expertise in commercial applications and projects," he said.
Sarah Knapper, research and development director of the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire & Humber, said: "Food and drink is the biggest manufacturing industry in the UK but has suffered from a lack of long-term investment in research and development. Appetizing Innovation can provide experts from outside the manufacturing industry who bring a different perspective on innovation for food. This outside thinking can give food companies the inspiration and ideas they need to fulfil their potential."
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