Valio R&D releases more than 100 new products every year. The development and variation of basic products is important because consumers want change and variety in their diet - the lifespan of an individual product is usually short. Valio focuses on the more challenging development arena of value-added products.
Product development is a matter of teamwork, often utilising Valio's in-house research. Development projects are implemented working with Valio's other divisions and with production plants. Co-operation with raw material and equipment suppliers is also important.
Product development needs to consider international food preferences as fresh dairy products go to Valio's home market (Finland, Sweden, the Baltics and Russia) and cheeses further afield to Europe and North America.
The demand for low fat or fat free products, so evident in Finland, is beginning to appear in other countries, too. Similarly, low lactose and lactose-free products familiar to Finns are also attracting interest in e.g. Europe and Asia.
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