KRAFT HEINZ
Technology also plays a pivotal role in helping Kraft Heinz innovate new products to meet people’ s shifting tastes and preferences, as well as helping it improve processes and bolster its sustainability credentials.
Mirjam flags the importance of digital tools in all of this:“ We embrace predictive modelling and advanced data analytics, using all the data we have available. In this way we can drive efficiency and productivity and it can also help us identify different opportunities.”
“ This is why we have adopted an Open Innovation Model,” she adds.“ We collaborate with universities, startups and suppliers to drive technological advances. We drive open innovation on technology as we can apply it to the business. We look outside for relevant partners, and have dedicated partnerships and consortia with customers, with research institutes and universities, but also with some startups.”
Collaborative partnerships sharpen competitive edge“ We have made [ partnerships ] a key part of our innovation strategy,” says Mirjam, emphasising the importance of speed.“ These days, because things are going so fast, speed is often critical to success.”
This need for speed is also reflected in the company’ s approach to prototyping and product development, says Mischa:“ We have a pilot plant, which we call Innovation Factory, where we can produce products and bring them to the consumer. We can produce the next ketchup, bring it to customers and understand,
16 kraftheinzcompany. com