3Friends – Insight, Service and Concept Design
The insight’led recipe behind 3 friends’ future flavours
3 Friends, the beloved and growing Finnish ice cream company, wanted to develop a more strategic approach to product innovation, grounded more deeply in consumer insight, and create a model that would set the direction for future portfolio innovations.
INDUSTRY
Ice Cream / FMCG
MARKET
Europe
WHAT WE DID
Foresight & Trend Mapping, Consumer Insight, Innovation Platforms, Concept Development, Product Innovation
A concept for future ice-cream innovation
3 Friends wanted to build a structured foundation for future innovation, one that would help the brand make confident, consumer-relevant decisions over the coming years. The objective was to define clear innovation platforms, based on trends and grounded in a real understanding of how people choose, share, and enjoy ice cream, that could guide development across the brand’s portfolio.
Innovation platforms built on deep consumer insight
Through qualitative consumer insight and trend analysis, we explored emerging behaviours, emotional drivers, and evolving expectations around food and enjoyment, translating them into initial innovation platforms that give direction for future product innovation.
A strategic tool for future growth
The flavour concepts developed through the platforms were then tested with consumers, with conclusions drawn around potential, brand fit, and the strategic prioritisation of 3 Friends’ innovation work. The outcome is a set of innovation platforms that function as a strategic tool for building 3 Friends’ future ice cream portfolio in Europe.
Results
“This project was incredibly valuable for us. What made it especially impactful was bringing together our own team, industry professionals, and consumers throughout the process. The result was not only fresh perspectives and inspiration, but also a clear innovation platform and practical tools that will support our innovation work for years to come.”
–Henna Kainulainen
Portfolio & Innovation Lead
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