Leveraging a Market Trend
	PRODUCT REFINEMENT

The recent increase in consumer focus toward natural foods made a food industry client interested in breaking into the natural category with a sweetener product. However, the company knew it needed to maintain its core market positioning. The challenge was finding the best balance between a variety of natural and flavorful sweeteners without losing recognition or loyalty. If successful, there would be potential to move other sweetened products into the natural category.

The Pert Group used a comparative taste test to discover which combination was best suited for in-market replacement:

• A multitude of natural sweetener combinations were tested in an attempt to reach a level equal or surpassing the in-market product.
• The research not only assessed which of the tested variants was best for the market, but also helped evaluate a theoretical “best possible variant” that would increase overall liking.

The research outcome clearly identified the best natural variation among those tested. Additionally, statistical modeling enabled the company to optimize the amount of natural formulation to use in each product, allowing for cost savings. This work has been the model for future natural sweetened goods produced by the company.