Functional food product development – Opportunities and challenges for food manufacturers

Functional foods, being one of the major food categories of the global health and wellness market, are becoming a major focus of new product development (NPD) in the food industry. Functional food product development (FFPD) is a complex process with success factors that are somewhat different from those of traditional new food product development. This review focuses on the need to evolve from a traditional NPD approach, toward an integrative and innovative approach involving cooperative networks and techniques of commercialization. Greater focus on a product-oriented NPD portfolio and diverse multiple external partners have been suggested as key factors for accelerating the progress of FFPD.

► Functional food product development is a complex process with success factor different than traditional food NPD.
► A brief comparison of traditional food NPD and functional food product development (FFPD).
► How to evolve from traditional NPD activities and practices to effectively succeed in FFPD.
► An integrative and innovative approach involving cooperative networks and techniques of commercialization as a way forward.
► New innovation business models (open innovation) highlighted to show various approaches to succeed in this sector.