Jenny Runnacles, studying Geography at The University of Bristol, was placed with Ming Foods to develop a new product. Ming Foods is the leading manufacturer and supplier of Chinese pancakes in the UK. The company owners required a solution for how to use the waste pancake dough that was a bi-product of their automated process. The waste dough was currently being thrown away and was costing the company £15,000 in landfill costs.
The project brief
Jenny’s project was to find a new snack food that could be made from the leftover dough. She began by testing out her own recipes at home and by getting to know the company’s products. From her early investigations, she came up with the idea for a new ‘on the go’ snack that would fill a gap in the market. She developed the snack to be eaten with a dipping sauce and recommended that Ming Foods teamed up with a specialist dip manufacturer rather than try and make it themselves, as this was more cost-effective.
Challenges..
Jenny spent the rest of her time developing the packaging, sourcing the machinery to make the snack and market testing it on as many people as possible. By the end of her placement, Jenny was in the position to meet with one of Ming Foods’ biggest customers, Northern Foods, to present the prototype. The meeting was successful and Ming Foods has been asked to look at incorporating the new snack into one of Northern Foods’ ready meals.
Success!
Although Jenny found herself on a steep learning curve, her project has been highly successful for Ming Foods. They estimate that they will increase their profits by £230,000 in the next three years.
“I cannot comment heighly enough on the positive effect that Jenny has had on everyone wihin the organisation and I have a positive outlook on employing prospective students and graduates in the future.”
- Sam Duong, Company Owner, Ming Foods
