Visionary food innovators look to redefine the industry’s possibilities
Louise Forster-Smith, Rupert Pick and Ollie Lloyd.
Hot Pickle, an award-winning experiential firm, introduces Hot Pickle Innovation Lab, a daring new innovation section devoted to addressing some of the most important issues and prospects influencing culinary culture going forward.
Over the past ten years, the Hot Pickle Innovation Lab has been quietly growing, providing significant insights and innovative projects for global leaders such as General Mills, Unilever, Diageo, and Hello Fresh.
Reflecting on Hot Pickle’s impact, Nadia Djeroro, strategy & innovation director at Unilever, says: “The best agency I have on my roster. A can-do mentality, real experts, infectiously passionate, knowledgeable. Humble. Accountable. Lovely human beings.”
Now, with the food industry in a period of unprecedented change – from new (such as Ozempic) – the Hot Pickle Innovation Lab will bring deep industry knowledge with fresh thinking, rapid ideation & prototyping, alongside unique in-market testing to help brands adapt and thrive.
Joining Hot Pickle’s founder, Rupert Pick, to lead the division – which will sit alongside the agency’s Brand Homes & Flagships and Integrated Experience arms – are two senior industry figures:
- Ollie Lloyd joins as head of innovation. Formerly of Unilever, ?What If! and Hearst, Ollie co-founded the UK’s leading gourmet food platform, Great British Chefs, and is the voice behind The Food Talk Show podcast.
- Louise Forster-Smith becomes innovation director. A long-time collaborator and former consultant for Hot Pickle and Soil Association Certification, she brings a wealth of experience in consumer research, product development and innovation strategy.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for F&B brands,” says Rupert Pick. “The launch of our new division is all about tapping into the fringes of food culture to help even the biggest brands disrupt and think/act like a challenger brand. Between the three of us – Ollie, Lou and I – the expertise and passion we share for food and drink is colossal. We can’t wait to distil our shared knowledge to make magic happen.”
The Hot Pickle Innovation Lab will combine rich food & drink expertise, strategic foresight & futures thinking with hands-on creative execution – from concept creation to real-world testing – enabling brands in the grocery, foodservice and hospitality space to move faster, smarter, and be more disruptive.
