Consultancy and Training areas in Sensory Evaluation include:

  • Basics of Sensory Evaluation - The Benefits of Objective Sensory Testing, Basic Tastes, Taste Physiology and Psychology, Setting up a Taste Panel, Training Professional Panellists.

  • Difference and Similarity Testing - Tests designed to evaluate whether a real difference exists between products or samples, and in some cases how big is the difference and what is its nature.

  • Sensory Profiling - Determination of the Qualitative and Quantitative sensory description of a product or sample.

  • Product Mapping - Using sensory parameters to characterise groupings in sectors or categories.

Sensory Evaluation allows an important criteria (the sensory properties of a product) to be incorporated into quality systems, new product development, and marketing methodologies.

Consultancy and Training areas in Consumer Testing include:

  • Product Testing - Methodology, Design, Analysis, Reporting, Ethical Issues, Facilities Audit and Interviewer Training.

  • Linking Consumer Preferences to Sensory Characteristics – Using mapping and modelling techniques to visualise/optimise/predict consumer preferences with respect to sensory attributes and products.  These techniques can also identify consumer segments.

I have been working in the field of sensory and consumer research for over twenty years and have been involved in projects ranging from training technical staff to use a basic common sensory language to large-scale multi-partner research and development.

Organisations in which I have been involved in sensory and consumer research (as a student, or through work or consultancy) include the University of California, the University of Burgundy, Cadbury-Schweppes, Gerber Foods Manufacturing, British Sugar, Glaxo SmithKline, Ryvita, the Advertising Standards Authority, and the Institute of Food Research.

I am the secretary of the Institute of Food Science and Technology Professional Food Sensory Group and a committee member of the Society of Chemical Industry Consumer and Sensory Research Group.