The two key ingredients of food industry necessary for growth and survival: Reinvention and Innovation

Reinvention and Innovation are the Key Ingredients of the Food Industry

?The food industry has always relied on two very basic but absolutely necessary Key Ingredients for survival and growth.

Innovation and reinvention

Anyone working in the food industry relies on either reinventing an existing dish or inventing a new one. When given wings, new ideas, amazing recipes, and refined techniques can soar to new heights. Reinvention and innovation are ingredients that can elevate a dish, whether sweet or savory, classic or modern, to a new level. In this blog, I will address the key question. Why are reinvention and innovation regarded as essential ingredients in the food industry? And what makes them so vital to the survival and growth of the business or an individual.

“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”

Thomas Keller

How do Reinvention and Innovation as a concept work in the food industry?

?How does Reinvention work?

What comes to mind when we say Butter Chicken? You immediately conjure up a tantalizing image in your mind. A spice-induced creamy gravy with well-cooked succulent pieces of chicken that are filled with buttery goodness. Yum! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Now, it has been around for decades and is easily one of the most popular dishes in India. So, why would anyone want to reinvent it?

However, when chef "Saransh Goila" reinvented this classic dish and created his own version, it became so well-known that it was featured in a pressure test episode of Masterchef Australia. The three judges referred to it as "the world's best butter chicken" during the live show. Goila's popularity skyrocketed overnight, and he now has lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of followers on Twitter and Instagram, and people, Mumbaikars and tourists alike, flock to eat the "World's best butter chicken." He achieved this level of fame through "reinvention of a classic."

?How does innovation work?

As a die-hard fan of the show, I've always wished for more Indian representation. So imagine my surprise when, in the most recent season, not one, but two contestants were Indian. Then one of them concocts a hybrid of savory and sweet. It looked delicious, and judging by the judges' appreciative moans and comments, it must have tasted fantastic as well. That sweet and savory creation gained the contestant instant recognition in the food lover community, professional or otherwise. From being a home cook to creating an unusual dish, the contestant was able to carve her own niche.

?What is the significance of reinvention?

“You have to reinvent to stay fresh, to stay in the game.”

Maddona Ciccone

(a) In the food industry, reinvention is not an option; it is required. In today's world, as people become more health conscious, they are attempting to avoid greasy and oily renditions of recipes in favor of healthier alternatives. Chefs can make butter chicken without the use of butter and it still tastes delicious. On rare occasions, some recipes turn out to be even better versions of the original!

?(b) The customers usually have high expectations when it comes to food, however it is not possible to create a new food item every time. This is where art of reinvention comes in. You can see a fundamental growth in your career just by tweaking a few ingredients, methods and techniques.

(c) Reinvention is a fantastic opportunity for traditional cooks and chefs to market their regional cuisine simply by reinventing so that they appear more mass appealing.

A contestant on the aforementioned show won everyone's hearts and accolades by presenting a simple Bengali household dish called "Macher Jhol" in her own unique style.

(d) Food giants such as KFC, McDonald's, Subway, and others have been able to maintain their brands through reinvention. In the current scenario when the world is dealing with a pandemic and its effects on economy, it becomes feasible and cost effective to recreate in order to remain in the game.

What is the significance of innovation?

?Consider the following scenarios:

?(a) A woman on YouTube instructing her viewers on how to make a pizza-like dish. She swears on her life that even though it isn't pizza, it will have the appearance and taste of pizza. A few of her brave followers tried the recipe and swore by it.

?(b) On a popular food channel watched by millions, a renowned chef teaches new Ayurvedic recipes. Chances are, a few hundred of the viewers will try these recipes.

(c) If you have a sweet tooth, your options may be limited due to diet restrictions or medical issues. You go online and look for alternatives to the traditional chocolate cake. A new innovative Honey Semolina Cake is a hit online and a best-seller. You have finally managed to find your pilgrim!

“Need is the mother of invention”

The post-pandemic world has altered our lifestyles and mindsets, particularly when it comes to food. We are always on the lookout for new and delicious alternatives to the foods we have grown accustomed to eating. These days people lean towards healthier food options that are high in nutrition while being low in calories. Then there is a new trend of fusions of sweet and savory inventions.

To meet the demands and requirements of their customers, food giants, chefs, and even regular home cooks are constantly looking for new recipes and experimenting with new age cooking. Especially those who want to start new businesses and are new to the food industry. It is sometimes necessary to experiment with completely new ideas and ingredients rather than relying on minor tweaks and fine tuning.

Finally, when it comes to food, each to his or her own. For some, reinvention is more effective than invention, and vice versa. It's all about identifying your strength and capitalizing on it. What is important, however, is that you never stop creating or reinventing yourself. Rinse and re-rinse. You can either make it or break it, but you should never give up.