EP 4: Consumers Don’t Want to Change, So Why Are They

Most management consultants would say their greatest challenges are the ones that involve change management. When consumers find a set of products and foods they like, they typically don’t want those things to change. Yet we are seeing more change in the space of consumer wants and needs than ever before. This podcast we hear from a food scientist and anthropologist about what the plant-based food industry can learn from Tesla, or about the importance of understanding the ‘Job’ consumers are hiring your product to do.

Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan is the CEO and Founder of Malachite Strategy and Research, LLC., a front-end of innovation consulting group for FMCG, food retailers, and foodservice.

Kevin was formally Director of Innovation and Strategy at General Mills for 16 years and Global Strategy Lead for Amazon. Kevin has a PhD and MS in Food Science from UIUC and an MSc in Food Anthropology.

Bruce Perkin is the principal scientist and operator of Robust Food Solutions LLC, a food science-based consultancy that has operated since 2017, providing strategic advice and hands on support to food businesses in the areas of quality systems and food safety, innovation, product development, and organizational design.

Bruce is a Certified Food Scientist, a Certified HACCP practitioner, and is a Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence through the American Society for Quality. He is also a Preventative Controls Qualified Individual under the FSMA regulations. He has completed Food Defense training through the FDA and the FSPCA. Bruce is a past Chairperson of the Dallas /Fort Worth chapter of IFT, and also a past Chair of the Food Service Division of IFT. In addition, Bruce is a part time Adjunct Professor at Texas Womens’ University teaching NPD, Food Science and Food Safety to Culinology students.