Using Artificial Intelligence to Transform Product Innovation and Drive Sustainable Growth

As a global leader in taste and nutrition, Kerry Group is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate innovation, enhance customer collaboration, and improve operational efficiency across its business.

One example of an impactful AI application currently in use at Kerry relates to how it undertakes New Product Development (NPD). By integrating AI-powered tools into product innovation workflows, Kerry is helping customers bring new food and beverage products to market more quickly and effectively. These tools enable teams to analyse large volumes of market, consumer and product data, identify emerging trends, generate formulation insights, and rapidly explore new product concepts.

Traditionally, product development can involve extensive manual research and iterative testing. AI is enabling Kerry’s scientists, product developers and commercial teams to access insights in seconds, significantly reducing the time required to move from idea generation to product concept. This allows teams to focus more of their expertise on creativity, customer collaboration and solving complex formulation challenges.

The benefits extend beyond speed. AI helps uncover patterns and opportunities that may not be immediately visible through conventional analysis, supporting more informed decision-making and increasing the likelihood of successful product launches. By combining advanced technology with Kerry’s deep scientific expertise and global knowledge base, the company can deliver more tailored, data-driven solutions to customers across diverse markets.

AI is also supporting Kerry’s broader digital transformation journey. Across functions and operations, the company is exploring how data, automation and intelligent technologies can improve productivity, enable smarter decision-making and enhance the employee experience. Importantly, Kerry’s approach is centred on empowering people rather than replacing them. AI serves as a tool that augments human expertise, allowing employees to work more efficiently and focus on higher-value activities.

As demand for sustainable, nutritious and innovative food solutions continues to grow, Kerry believes AI will play an increasingly important role in helping address global food system challenges. From accelerating innovation cycles to enabling more responsive customer solutions, AI is helping Kerry deliver on its purpose of creating a world of sustainable nutrition while maintaining its position at the forefront of industry innovation.

This work demonstrates how an Irish-headquartered global company is successfully applying AI at scale to create tangible business value, strengthen competitiveness and contribute to Europe’s digital and innovation ambitions.