Special Offer: Get 50% off your first 2 months when you do one of the following
Personalized offer codes will be given in each session
Share This Event
To invite people, share this page:
About

Understanding consumers is the cornerstone of successful product development and sales. Our approach blends business needs with quantitative and qualitative research methods, culminating in compelling storytelling that drives consumer-focused innovation. This session empowers food ingredient suppliers to craft meaningful narratives that inspire collaboration and fuel growth.

In today’s fast-paced world of product development and marketing, truly listening to consumers is more than a value, it’s a necessity. Our integrated approach combines quantitative and qualitative research to unlock deeper insights into consumer preferences, enabling accelerated development timelines and impactful storytelling. This session will highlight the interplay between these methodologies, showcasing how they complement each other to create a cohesive, consumer-driven narrative. Attendees will gain practical knowledge about designing research that bridges the gap between data and storytelling. Through a real-world case study, we’ll illustrate how to identify and address key research challenges while maintaining the rigor of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. By attending, participants will learn how to incorporate these techniques into the product development cycle, ultimately building stronger partnerships with clients and delivering innovative solutions. Our goal is to inspire a collaborative and creative research process that drives both innovation and business success.

Key takeaways:
1. How to encourage a collaborative and creative research process.
2. How to combine research methods to unlock and deliver innovative solutions.
3. How to identify and address key research challenges while maintaining rigor.

Featured Presenters
Webinar hosting presenter
Director - Sensory & Consumer Products Research - NA, Kerry Group
Stella Salisu Hickman, director of sensory and consumer product research, NA, has over 20 years of expertise in the flavor and fragrance industry. She holds a Ph.D. in organization and management, a master’s in biochemistry and a B.S. in analytical chemistry. Her career includes roles at Coca-Cola, Martek/DSM, McCain Foods and Belle Aire Creations, where she built sensory programs and developed innovative fragrances. Stella has served in leadership roles within IFT and ASTM E18 and she actively mentors women in the industry. Her strengths include mentoring, sensory insights and linking sensory findings to analytical data.
Webinar hosting presenter
Sensory Scientist, Kerry Group
Chad Richards is a dedicated sensory scientist at Kerry, with six years of experience. Specializing in the snacks and bakery groups, he also has extensive experience in consumer research and descriptive analysis. His recent work focuses on the co-creation of new products with customers, contributing to several innovative product launches. Through sensory testing on maskers for functional ingredients and tools for salt and sugar reduction, Chad enables Kerry’s values of sustainable nutrition.
Webinar hosting presenter
VP Research and Insight, Matrix Sciences
Donya Stubbs is a food scientist and a Certified Analytics & Insights Professional (CAIP) with 30 years of experience in sensory-based consumer product research and market research. Bringing the science and storytelling together, she helps clients translate insights into strategies that drive business success. Beyond her professional work, Donya has held leadership roles in several non-profits and is a member of ASTM International and ISO, where she contributes to research best practices. She is also an avid trail runner, weightlifter and softball player who competes in Hyrox.