ROCKETS, ROBOTS ... AND SEAWEED?
Finding innovation in unexpected places
Words: Stephanie Thornton
Inspiration for innovation can be found in the most unexpected of places. Understanding advances in other sectors, such as space, AI and sustainability can drive innovation within beverages.
What do rocket ships, robots and seaweed have to do with the beverage industry? Well, the answer is more than you might think.
By understanding advances outside of our industry, we can ensure we’re making use of the latest and greatest developments whatever the sector, and creating solutions that match the future needs of our customers.
Here are three examples:
Companies such as Coca-Cola use AI technology to generate thousands of ideas to fast-track innovation. New products are being created, tested, and launched/killed faster than ever with minimal costs thanks to these AI simulations. As Finlays’ innovation blossoms, AI can aid in idea generation in the natural beverage space while also providing quick access to simulated consumer testing.
New products are being created, tested, and launched/killed faster than ever with minimal costs thanks to these AI simulations.
With bold innovations in travel come bold innovations in food and beverage. After all, if a product can survive space, it can survive the delivery to your doorstep! As omni-channel platforms grow, this creates greater need for shelf-stability and resilience to maintain great taste. By implementing this sort of design thinking into our innovation process at Finlays, we can create even more resilient products.
Increasing awareness of environmental issues has led to innovations in sustainable materials, waste management, and circular economy models aimed at minimizing environmental impact.
Did you know plastic could be made from seaweed, an entirely natural and upcycled raw material? Finlays is now investigating novel ways to provide consumers with environmentally friendly products that don’t break the bank. Upcycled ingredients will become a bigger facet of Finlays’ broader innovation approach, which will help customers and consumers directly contribute to sustainable and circular economy initiatives.
AI, space exploration and seaweed: three distinct technological advances that, despite their surface level differences, all unify the food and beverage industry’s ability to innovate stronger, resilient, convenient, and more environmentally friendly products!
Stephanie Thornton
Senior Manager, Innovation stephanie.thornton@finlays.net
