Fine Foods and continuous innovation: competitive advantage and shared value

Trusting partner, which, in cooperation with customers, analyzes the needs and identifies the best solutions to their extent, solution that will provide them with a competitive advantage.

Fine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A. ­ an Italian independent Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) that develops and manufactures contract products for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetics, biocides and medical devices industries, has been pursuing goals of excellence since its foundation.

With €193 million revenue in 2021 and more than 260 customers, Fine Foods ­ listed on Euronext STAR Milan of Borsa Italiana (Ticker: FF) - is a growing company geared to meet future challenges.

Fine Foods sees innovation as the driving force behind its growth, and a distinctive feature among CDMO market players. It has established a crossfunctional team that meets periodically to address integrated product development. A relentless search for customer satisfaction drives the company's focus on continuous innovation, research and development, quality and sustainability.

Continuous Improvement projects involve every department and are an essential part of Fine Foods' competitive strategy and a shared value. This imple­ mentation involves assigning each initiative to a contact person, project sponsor, project leader and steering committee that meets regularly to monitor progress. Project focus meetings are organised for the benefit of all employees.

This is flexible and proactive organisation that transversally involves every company division with defined and shared roles and responsibilities. It supports a dynamic approach to innovation, and creates a fertile environment to develop the problem solving and Lean Thinking skills of those involved. This fosters the acquisition of new specific and soft skills.

The in­house R&D division studies and formulates new nutraceutical and cosmetic products. The catalogue with more than 100 ready-to-market nutraceutical formulas in 17 health categories enables customers to grasp market trends quickly. In addition, the division assesses the feasibility of transferring the production processes of already existing pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic products (technology transfer) to its plants.

With trained and experienced staff, selected raw materials and up­to­date technology, the R&D division develops result­oriented innovation. Fine Foods is a trusted partner, working alongside customers by analysing needs, based on market trends, identifying the best tailor­made solution which provides a competitive advantage.

The R&D team works closely with customers in finalising the most ambitious projects with ready­tomarket products or by devising out-of-the box solutions presented at meetings where the latest innovations are introduced to customers.

The process for nutraceuticals and cosmetics consists of five key steps:

• research into formulation ideas: a synergistic partnership with the best raw material suppliers and constant market data analysis allow to gather insights and ideas on trends and offer the best formulations supported by scientific evidence;

• feasibility check: using small­scale plants representative of the leading production technologies present in the various plants, Fine Foods can carry out technological feasibility studies and finely-tuned sensory testing.

• product development: working with Quality Control, new products are fine-tuned, enhancing the key aspects of market interest and making the products usable for the consumer, with a focus on sustainability;

• stability studies: the small­scale plants allow the production of samples that are more representa­ tive of industrial production than small laboratory samples. This allows stability studies to be carried out that represent future products to be placed on the market;

• pilot-scale batch production: before proceeding with industrial production, pilot­scale batches are carefully monitored by the industrialisation technicians. This makes it possible to spot any issues not highlighted in small­scale R&D tests.

Fine Foods allocates approximately 120 people (16 percent) of its workforce to scientific, technical, research and development, quality and control activities.

Through synergies and affiliations with Italian (Federsalus, Union Food) and European (FSE) trade associations, Fine Foods supports customers in the regulatory framework, updating them on new developments.

Fine Foods & Pharmaceuticals N.T.M. S.p.A Via Berlino, 39 24040 Zingonia/Verdellino Bergamo, Italy T. +39 035 482 13 82 www.finefoods.it info@finefoods.it