Rutherford provides specialist services in the areas of Research and Product Development. Rutherford can provide advice and services from the very early stages of product development through to scale-up and launch.

Rutherford can also assist you to get your product on the supermarket shelf by helping you meet the requirements of supermarket and vendor quality assurance programs, such as the Woolworths Quality Assurance Standard.

The desired outcomes of a product development project will determine the level of expertise needed and the level of detail required.

But whatever the project, large or small, Rutherford can give you the technical advice you need to make decisions and help you streamline the process.

Rutherford can also give you an overview of the tasks required and timeframes involved to help you plan your product development project.

Rutherford can provide you with the se services to assist you in the scale-up of your project to reflect the requirements of mass food production and help get your product to market.

Rutherford services include:

Modification of ‘kitchen’ samples - to reflect the requirements of large scale production, including:

• stabilisation (viscosity, emulsification, etc.)
• shelf life extension and maximisation
• flavour profiling
• range extension

Processing Analysis - to ensure that the product is handled and processed to give the highest quality possible and is produced in a consistent manner, including:

• development of detailed processing specifications and manufacturing procedures (SOP's)
• ingredient/raw material and packaging sourcing
• premises and equipment sourcing
• evaluation of processing systems
• on-site evaluations of contract packers

Production Trials - to ensure all processing problems are ironed out before large scale production, including:

• organising and sourcing materials for scale up trials
• supervision of trials
• full written report of trial findings and corrective action activities

Further Product Development Support - to ensure that all aspects of food production are covered and to provide consistency in project management, including:

• research and development of labelling requirements and labelling specifications
• conduct accelerated shelf life trials
• develop sampling and testing regimes (microbial, physical and chemical)
• liaising with contract/third party processors and personnel
• analysis and development of transport and distribution requirements
• technical troubleshooting
• cost reduction programs
• liaising with marketing personnel for launch and associated activities

Information about RTS Areas of Expertise and the RTS Team can be found here.