Research and Development

Technology utilized to meet local and regional tastes
Welch's International is committed to providing quality products that satisfy local and regional tastes. Our dedicated Research and Development (R&D) team will often adjust an existing recipe for a familiar product. At other times, a market-specific product is developed for a newly identified consumer taste or preference.

 

Welch's develops new products at a rate far above the industry average. The cornerstone of that effort is our 40,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Technology Center in Billerica, MA. At the center of that facility is a 6,000 square foot, semi-works capable pilot plant.

Some of the capabilities housed at our Technology Center include:

• Sensory evaluation
• Package development testing pilot plant/laboratory
• Microbiology laboratory
• Testing with HPLC, atomic absorption, GC, MS, flame photometer, etc.

These state-of-the-art resources allow us to be truly action-oriented. Our International team takes data and consumer research findings and translates them into products designed specifically to meet local consumer tastes and preferences.

The Technology Center is populated with highly skilled and committed professionals including:

• Analytical Chemists
• Food Scientists
• Microbiologists
• Nutritionists
• Packaging Engineers
• Process Development Engineers
• Quality Specialists

This expertise also means we can - and do - monitor both our raw materials and finished products for quality assurance, around the world. It means Welch's quality assurance scientists and operations specialists travel to other countries to work on recipes, packaging integrity, local raw material sourcing, processing challenges, warehousing requirements and even distribution channel trials that might impact product quality.

The marriage of this product, packaging and processing expertise with marketing and business management know-how is a big part of why new products are responsible for nearly 30% of our sales - more than double the industry average.