how it works

Speed and Accuracy

As the name implies, Fast Foodfax is designed to provide rapid and actionable information on product innovations for our subscribers.

Fast Foodfax is not intended to be a definitive, comprehensive and exhaustive test of new food and drink products; but it is a highly cost-effective source of information compared with in-house or other forms of market information feedback

Trained Store Monitors

Virtually every week of the year our specially trained, independent monitors are picking up new product introductions as they appear on shelf. Up to 2,500 new products are picked up and pass over our desks drawn from every level of the food and drink retail trade.

Stores monitored are carefully chosen for size and range. Coverage includes all key multiples, Co-ops, garage forecourt shops, Chemists, Health Food shops, Convenience outlets, through to independent Farm Shops

Head Office Listing and Selection

All new products are forwarded to Head Office for listing and screening where we select a range of the most innovative for consumer testing. Around 500 new products per annum are tested through Fast Foodfax

In-Home Consumer Test

As most of the products tested are intended for in-home consumption or preparation, we use our own unique in-home research technique, The Cambridge Home Test

Feedback is obtained on cooking and preparation by the Interviewer hosts

The packaging is shown to respondents, followed by the prepared food products, cooked / served as directed on pack

A standardised questionnaire is completed in silence, covering key measures of product performance including likelihood and frequency of purchase

A tailored Questionnaire for Hot and Soft Drinks and fresh foods

An evolution of the original questionnaire, with the core measures adapted to cover refreshment, aftertaste and ease of drinking for drinks and measures known to drive choice in fresh produce – Touch & Feel, Freshness and Colour

Respondent Base

As the presence of children is an important influence on attitudes and buying behaviour, we test products using an appropriate sample of either those with a family living at home or those who are pre and post the family stage, drawn from our Neighbourhood Research Network.

Family groups include a spread of respondents with younger and older children.

For each test, groups of up to 10 respondents are convened in 6 locations across Great Britain.  Location choices vary to ensure regional coverage.

The total sample of around 50 consumers is complemented by a panel of Junior respondents aged 7-14, on relevant products.

Respondents are used a maximum of 12 times in any one year with a proportion of fresh respondents included in each panel.

A Proven Questionnaire

All Fast Foodfax product assessments are conducted using a standardised questionnaire.

The core of this questionnaire explores the key basic measures of:

  • Noticeability in store
  • Pre-trial interest in purchase
  • Ratings on tasting of all the key product characteristics and the packaging
  • Post-trial interest in purchase
  • Likely frequency of purchase

Additional questioning provides further insight on product acceptability and its role in the repertoire