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ATU Students Develop Innovative Food Products
ATU recently hosted a New Food Product Development (NPD) Showcase at its St Angelas campus in Sligo.
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) recently hosted a New Food Product Development (NPD) Showcase at its St Angelas campus in Sligo, where students had the opportunity to pitch their own business ideas and food products to industry experts, highlighting the creative and entrepreneurial skills gained through their degree.
Final year BSc (Hons) in Nutrition, Food and Business Management students undertake an NPD module in year 4 which allows them to develop a product from idea concept, right through to prototype development and product launch. Students create original food products which they believe offer true market potential, while meeting realistic demands for the average consumer. Alongside developing the food product itself, they develop food packaging, labelling and a business plan.
From conception, these ideas follow every step of the NPD process towards establishing a real food business from trialling the sensory attributes of the product, its nutritional value, branding and costing – students get a real sense of how food businesses operate and how everyday products make it to the marketplace.
Aurivo are the main sponsor for the event and Quality Manager, Marie Reynolds, describes the calibre at this year’s showcase “through their individual market research, these BSc students continue to impress us year on year”. “It is clear that their passion for food and sustainable practices will contribute greatly to the industry and these inspiring professionals are exactly what we need in today’s world”.
The judging panel was made up of food industry experts including Marie Reynolds, Quality Manager with Aurivo, Tracy Fergueson, Economic Development Officer at Sligo Local Enterprise Office and Stephanie Walsh, Food Business Consultant with IFAC. Following each presentation, the panel were tasked with the tough decision of awarding students and their products, with the runners up prizes going to Liam Dobson for his Whey Protein Seasoning ‘Seasoned Strength’ and Olamide Adeleke for her Plant-Based Savoury Nuggets ‘Plantified’. Helen Walsh was the overall winner with her Mochi Nua – Ice-cream mochi with an Irish twist.
Programme Director, Roisín Lydon, said allowing students the opportunity to explore their ideas in a dynamic ever-changing sector was very important; “food innovation and NPD is essential to the success and profitability of Irish food businesses and companies need to be at the cutting edge with trends and meeting consumer demands. Our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to propel them as true leaders in the agri-food sector and our graduate reputation speaks for itself with hugely successful careers and 100% employment on graduation”. For more information on the BSc (Hons) in Nutrition, Food and Business Management at ATU St Angelas, visit www.atu.ie/AU989
Photo caption: Final year students from BSc (Hons) in Nutrition, Food and Business Management programme at ATU St Angelas, with their innovative food product creations.
