In an increasingly fragmented and rapidly changing marketplace it is both more difficult and more important to create differentiated products that appeal to a large cross-section of consumers. In my presentation I will explore the role of both technology push and market pull and how they can be combined to enable successful product launches. When considering the market, what tools are available to improve the quality of our insight? What is the role of technology roadmapping and how can this be combined with Open Innovation to manage the risks and capital costs associated with technology intensive projects? I will use a number of examples of products I have worked on to illustrate the answers to these questions and to provide a vision for future innovation strategy.


Simon Branch studied at the University of Plymouth where he obtained a combined degree in Biology and Chemistry. He then spent two years working on method development for the pharmaceutical industry, before returning to the University of Plymouth to undertake a MAFF sponsored PhD entitled Arsenic Speciation in Food.In 1990 he joined RHM Technology as a Senior Analytical Chemist, progressing to Head of Chemistry, then Head of Food Technology ultimately becoming the Head of the Innovation and Improvement Department in 2005, a role he continued after RHM were acquired by Premier Foods in 2007. In 2010 he joined the McCormick Corporation, the worlds largest herb, spice and seasoning company. As EMEA R&D Director he is responsible for multisite NPD teams, developing products for both retail and industrial customers.

During his 20+ years in industry he has worked closely with multiple functions within RHM, Premier Foods and McCormick, including an extended secondment as a factory technical manager. His current activities focus on applying science and technology to accelerate processes and product innovation, through helping co-ordinate the relationship between technical, marketing, ops and procurement functions. He is an advocate of technology roadmapping and the role of technology push and helped establish Premiers innovation network. He was a Director of Sedex for 5 years, a start-up company that enables supply chains to share data on labour standards and environmental practices

Dr Branch is a past member of the authenticity working party at the CCFRA and previous Chairman of both the LFI Food Quality and Analysis Panel and the CCFRA Food Science panel. He is a past member of the RSC LGC advisory committee and the RSCs Science and Technology Board. For 20 years he was a member of the Atomic Spectrometry Updates (ASU) editorial board and has published approximately 30 technical papers and contributed book chapters covering the fields of spectroscopy, food analysis and food authenticity. Most recently he has contributed to a major RSC report on Food Sustainability. He has given a number of invited lectures throughout Europe and the USA.

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