BACKGROUND

Client planned to introduce two new line extensions.

MAi tested these products in a Concept/Product In-Home Use Test. Following this research, formulation changes were made to one of the products, with the recommendation of not changing the second product.

Client agreed to only change the one product as MAi had recommended. Follow-up in-home use product research was then conducted to assess how well the reformulated product performed overall. This research followed the same screening criteria and questionnaire as the original study.

Results from the second study on the reformulated product were inputted into the original Sensation™ simulator. Validation was then successfully completed…

Approach & Results:

Quantifiable R&D guidance through MAi’s Sensation™ model.

Product A Key Learning: From concept/product In-Home Use Test, learned consumers want more candy pieces in the product.

• Testing Using Sensation: The Sensation™ model was used to assess possible sensory changes to improve the product (e.g, softer, less crunchy texture, as well as more candy pieces and flavor, etc.). Modeled True Repeat increases from 50% to 56% if recommended changes are made.
   
• R&D agreed with formulation change reco, and reformulated product is produced.
   
• Product Reformulation Retested: True Repeat for the reformulated product was 55% based on consumers stated purchase intent - practically identical to Sensation™ model prediction of 56%!
   
• Sensation™ model also rerun using as-tested sensory data from reformulated product as inputs.
   
• Outcome: Modeled True Repeat of 57%--almost identical to actual as-tested True Repeat score of 55%. SENSATION™ MODEL VALIDATION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED through these two comparisons.