New products could help industry adapt to changing consumer preferences
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Ontario’s chicken farmers and other members of the industry may be more equipped to address shifting preferences in the marketplace, thanks to a new program from the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO).
The Ontario Chicken Innovation and Growth Program aims to encourage industry members – such as processors, food service companies, restaurants and retailers – to create new products for consumers, according to a release last week.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must submit the following information about their products:
- description
- minimum of six months of historical sales data
- forecasted sales data
- market research
- marketing plans
The innovations must be made using chicken completely raised and processed within the province.
After the Independent Advisory Committee reviews all applications, the panel of experts will select the successful innovations.
Then, to reward the inventors of the chosen products, the CFO will provide them with “an additional volume of chicken kilograms to process,” Rob Dougans, CFO’s president and CEO, told Farms.com this week.
Overall, this program will allow the industry to be responsive to many people’s changing food preferences, such as their desire for lean proteins, he said.
“Our goal … is to accelerate innovations that meet those changing consumer demands.”
The CFO is eager to recognize product developers within the industry.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing the applications,” Dougans said. “This industry is full of innovators … and we encourage any company involved in the processing, marketing and sale of chicken in Ontario to apply.”
Interested parties can submit applications for the program until July 13.
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