PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
At the Perennia Innovation Centre, our food scientists help clients develop safe and marketable food and beverage products. Through the Agri-Food Accelerator Program funding, they gather important government resources for consideration when developing a food product. Our food scientists also develop informational fact sheets, videos, and other tools to aid Nova Scotia based agri-food and beverage processors through the product development process.
This resource page is designed to guide clients through Perennia’s Commercialization Cycle for New Food Product Development. Click here to download the PDF booklet version of Perennia’s commercialization cycle.
Idea Generation, Idea Screening and Concept Development
- Trend Report for Nova Scotia Producers and Processors 2020
- Idea Development Checklist
- Forces Driving Creativity through Idea Development
- Idea Scouting Tip Sheet
- Brainstorming 101: How to cheat sheet
- Idea Screening Sample Questions
- Idea to Market series: Idea Generation Webinar
Business Strategy Development
- Target Consumer Profile Cheat Sheet
- Why New Products Fail and How Not to
- Pricing for Profit Tip Sheet
- The Business Model Cheat Sheet
- Marketing and Sales Plan Cheat Sheet
- Sales Plan Basics Cheat Sheet
- Take your product to market series: Pricing for profit and understanding margins webinar
Product Development
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Cannabis Edibles – When to use Pectin or Gelatin
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Brewing Stability
- Cannabis Edible Regulation
- Bacillus cereus
- Methods for Achieving Safe and Stable Beverage
- Acidified Food Products Fact Sheet
- Clostridium botulinum
- Cannabis Edible Shelf Life
- Food Additives
- Methods of Drying Foods
- Packaging Finding the Right Fit
- Packaging Balancing Functionality and Recyclability
- Packaging Sustainability
- Developing and Producing Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages
- The Science of Brewing
- Product Development 101
- Considerations for Cannabis Edibles
- Common Canadian Food Certifications
- Product Prototype Questions
- Prototype Packaging Questions
- The Ups and Downs of Plant Proteins
- It’s all about Flavours – Why use flavour in products
- It’s all about flavours – Technical Challenges
- Idea to Market series: Product Development webinar
Test Marketing/Consumer Acceptability Testing
- Product Validation Checklist and Cheat Sheet
- Checklist for Getting your Food/Beverage Product Ready for Retail
- Checklist for Getting your Food/Beverage Product Ready for a NS Farmers Market
- Take your product to market series: Introduction to Canadian Food Labelling Webinar
- Idea to Market series: Essential plans webinar
Commercialization
- Co-Packer Evaluation Checklist
- Major Elements and Keys to a Successful Co-Packer PartnershipÂ
- Labels and Packaging – Starting labels
- Labels and Packaging – Starting shrink sleeves
- Take your product to market series: Packaging for your brand: Developing your on shelf salesperson 1 webinar
- Take your product to market series: Packaging for your brand: Developing your on shelf salesperson 2 webinar
Introduction to Market/Product Launch
- Preparing an Agri-Business Plan
- Sustainable Packaging Best Practices for Farmers’ Markets in Nova Scotia
- Final regulations: edible cannabis, cannabis extracts, cannabis topicals
- Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Preferred Plastics Guide
- Designing for Compostability in Canada
- Less Food Loss and Waste, Less Packaging Waste
- Exporting foods – Key requirements necessary for export
- Food allergies and allergen labelling – Information for consumers
- Food Labelling for Industry
- Fact sheet: Traceability
- Retail Foods
- Getting started: Toolkit for food businesses
PERENNIA'S PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION TEAM
Analytical Services Coordinator
Marsha Grattan
innovation@perennia.ca
Food Scientist
Emily Page, BSc Food Science, Cert. Business
innovation@perennia.ca
Food Scientist – Beverage Specialist
Chelsea Meisner, BSc Food Science
innovation@perennia.ca
Processing and Production Specialist
Richard Dittman
innovation@perennia.ca
Program Administration Officer
Erin Boutilier
innovation@perennia.ca