Almond Breeze: Five Year Roadmap

How might we establish a lean and agile innovation function overnight?

Market Foresight | Future-proof Innovation

The process from ideation to product launch is mapped out and the time taken has reduced dramatically

The Challenge

Innovation is difficult. It’s even more difficult when you don’t have the processes, people or culture of innovation to drive the success that shareholders expect from their investment.

Founded in 1920 and based in Sacramento, California, Blue Diamond Growers is the largest cooperative producer of Almonds on the planet. Their vision is to deliver the benefits of almonds to the world. They grew on the rising tide of plant-based consumer demand which attracted larger competitive players. They needed to innovate to stay ahead and they needed to do it fast.

The Outcomes

Within 18 weeks, the global talents of The Sense Network were harnessed. Sense Worldwide delivered an end-to-end innovation process of discovery, definition, design and development. A robust, quantitatively tested five-year roadmap was now in place.

The Result

Blue Diamond has maintained its marketing leading position in a crowded market by remaining agile. They are able to innovate quickly and deliver market-disrupting products at speed. One such product was XTREMES Snack Nuts.

Our Approach

Almonds are a superfood. Consumers who seek plant-forward, healthier lifestyles have embraced the benefits of almonds. The market lead that Almond Breeze created, was driven in part by the business understanding the needs of niche consumers, in this instance lactose-intolerant consumers. We needed to understand how to transition Almond Breeze from market disruptor to shelf-stable food.

How The Sense Network Helped

The Sense Network helps identify future innovation opportunities at the edges of culture. With Almond Breeze’s legacy it made them a natural fit. We engaged Sensers from around the globe to build a five-year roadmap for the humble almond. With the help of extreme users, such as a vegan forager, we were able to map out a pipeline of innovation. This ensured Almond Breeze would remain relevant in an increasingly competitive space.

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