Nõo Lihatööstus has opened a product development kitchen to accelerate product development and enhance existing products, enabling new ideas to be tested before being scaled up for mass production and launched on store shelves.
“TasteLab is equipped with all the necessary equipment for testing products across different categories. This gives us the opportunity to develop new products faster and more efficiently than before,” said Simmo Kruustük, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Nõo Lihatööstus. According to Kruustük, the facility can also be used for product development workshops and projects, customer presentations, and testing innovative ideas.
Development of new products at Nõo Lihatööstus typically begins nearly a year before they reach the market. According to the company’s food technologist, Marko Kokmann, testing of the new winter product range is currently in its final stages, while development of next year’s summer products will begin in August. Around 80 product ideas are tested each season, of which approximately 20 eventually reach consumers.
According to Kruustük, Nõo Lihatööstus continues to rely on its long-standing principles and traditions when creating new products. For example, shashlik meat is still cut by hand into appropriately sized pieces, marinades are prepared on-site, and meat products are smoked exclusively using alder wood chips.
“We use only high-quality meat in our products and develop recipes based on flavours that are familiar and beloved by Estonian consumers. At the same time, we are working to reduce the salt and fat content of our products,” said Kruustük.
The company does not add flavour enhancer E621 (monosodium glutamate) to its new grilling products, preferring instead to use chilled raw materials that provide greater freshness and better flavour. Nõo Lihatööstus also does not use low-value mechanically separated meat in any of its products.
Nõo Lihatööstus is one of Estonia’s leading domestic meat producers and has been recognised as Estonia’s Best Family Business. With more than 200 employees, the company is one of the country’s significant employers. Its product portfolio includes more than 400 meat products.
For additional information:
Simmo Kruustük
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Phone: +372 51 68 103
