People around a table having a meeting in a meeting room

Helping AgileChilli strengthen ‘NPDtech’ for compliance in food innovation

Opportunity

With the numerous and sometimes conflicting pressures driving product innovation and NPD, ensuring safe, successful and compliant new products can be challenging.

Software use and data management is already an integral part of the food industry, and we must embrace the benefits of emerging systems that can enhance our existing capabilities. For example, systems that improve our ability to conform with internal protocols, as well as comply with external requirements of suppliers, customers, regulators, stakeholders, retailers and GFSI Standards.

AgileChilli specialise in software for the food and drink industry. Their flagship product is ‘NPDtech’, which supports product innovation alongside compliance management for NPD and QA teams (some of its core modules include supplier management, supplier approval, specifications, product development, nutrition information, complaint handling, project management and costings).

AgileChilli secured a grant from Innovate UK to fund a project with us, and approached us to work on a contract project performing an in-depth critique of their NPDtech software for use by the food sector.

Approach

The NPD modules of the software were reviewed, with particular emphasis on the compliance elements.

Richard Leathers, Global Quality Lead, and Lewis Wallis, Regulatory and Nutrition Affairs Advisor, went through the supplier approval, specifications, risk assessments, nutrition reporting and other compliance aspects of the software, with a fine-tooth comb, to provide useful critiques, recommendations and suggestions, which AgileChilli have since been actioning.

The review involved MS Teams discussions, system sharing sessions and a day where the software was live stress-tested in a face-to-face demonstration at our Chipping Campden site.

Results

Mark Garrett, Director of Food & Drink at AgileChilli said of the project:

Campden BRI’s knowledge and expertise was invaluable to us. This project really helped us ensure that our software is compliant with regulations and remains ahead of the game

Working with Mark and AgileChilli, we had the opportunity to live-fix some immediate small gaps in the system, but we also challenged them to make enhancements that will help food manufacturers deal with upcoming compliance hurdles.

The Campden BRI difference

Ensuring safety, quality and compliance, and managing risk, are paramount in food and drink manufacturing. Navigating legislation in different markets, as well as keeping up with regulatory changes, can all add complexity. As can keeping up with the latest guidance and best practice, alongside ensuring conformance to commercial standards.

We provide consultancy and guidance in all aspects of compliance and risk management – from initial supply chain risk assessments through to final product assurance. Our regulatory experts help you meet the legal requirements of your target markets and keep up with changes. No matter your product or situation, we can also help with the design and execution of testing plans to demonstrate compliance.