Product Innovation

The Pilgrim's research and development (R&D) team is focused on providing our customers with a competitive advantage through innovation, resulting in new product introductions, enhanced cost savings and improved problem solving.

Proactive R&D

R&D's role has expanded from being focused on sales channels and supporting regionally managed teams, to having a broader function across the whole enterprise.

Our goal is to drive efficiency in the new product development process and use our resources more effectively. We are now able to proactively work with our customers in providing their product development needs.

Pilgrim's R&D is responsible for taking a new product from concept to commercialization. It typically begins when a customer, or a member of the sales and marketing team, submits a new project request. This allows R&D work to begin. After that, our food technologists are responsible for developing prototypes in the R&D center, a modern 17,000-square-foot facility based at our corporate headquarters in Greeley, CO. This is accomplished by determining the formula, along with our ingredient suppliers, that will match up with our customer's expectations. All product attributes (taste, appearance, nutritional values, cost, packaging, etc.) must be addressed in this initial stage. When the sample and costing are approved, we set up plant testing so that we can learn all process parameters and product specifications. Successful plant testing is followed by development and submission of labeling and nutritional facts panel to USDA, completion of customer documents and Pilgrim's specifications. Once we have approvals from the customer and USDA, production is scheduled and ingredients and packaging ordered.

Our Innovation "Dream Team"

Our success in driving true innovation relies on our people. With this focus, Pilgrim's has put together a "dream team" in the product development world. Our five directors have a combined 150 years of experience as R&D leaders in the food industry. We have three former chefs on staff who bring the culinary skills essential in translating the latest flavor trends and restaurant cooking techniques to our processes. Our food scientists have advanced degrees from many of the leading collegiate food and meat science departments in the U.S. and abroad.

That focus on delivering innovative solutions to our customers was evident during a two-day session with executives from a large retail account. The meeting was aimed at identifying new retail products that would help drive sales and category growth for the customer, who was looking to Pilgrim's as a partner that could provide ideas and advice on building its business. Over the course of two days, the Pilgrim's team – which included sales, marketing, business development and R&D – produced an array of new product samples for review and scoring by the customer. By the end of the second day, the Pilgrim's team had pinpointed the final product specifications and been given the "green light" on several new items.

"Our customer said this was the most effective innovation session that they had ever been a part of, and that it had taken at least nine months off of their development time," said Phil Hurwitz, senior vice president of research and development.

The customer's comments validated what Hurwitz and others at Pilgrim's have come to recognize. "Pilgrim's now has the R&D resources, the people and the facilities to be a leader in the food industry."