The Art of Food Innovation lies in Building a Sustainable Future

As VP of R&D at Applegate, Chad Clem passionately leads his team to build and launch innovative and successful platforms in both the foodservice and retail channels. Before working at Applegate, Clem served as a food scientist, providing product development and category maintenance. With an extensive understanding of both FSIS and FDA regulatory affairs and exposure to USDA all-natural, antibiotic-free and organic products, Clem proudly establishes and supports all long-term health, environmental and food safety goals as well as innovation strategies at Applegate.

A Career Rooted in Food Innovation

My journey in the food and meat industry started two decades ago, with a strong educational foundation in poultry and food science at the University of Arkansas. Upon graduating, I joined Sara Lee Corporation, working on the Jimmy Dean brand. During this period, I realized the importance of producing better-for-you products and enjoyed the process of formulating them.

This led me to pivot my career significantly, and join Perdue Farms, where I contributed to developing antibiotic-free poultry and organic products. Along the way, I became familiar with Applegate Farms and their co-packing partners. The company's commitment to producing better-for-you products resonated with my personal values. Inspired by Applegate's mission to prioritize animal welfare, human health and environmental sustainability, I joined the company.  Today, I have been with Applegate for over a decade. In the past year, I took over the food safety and quality assurance team, project management office and all regulatory and product lifecycle management support.

Focus on Consumer Trends and Behavior

A few years ago at Applegate, our business heavily emphasized animal welfare attributes. While these factors are significant, we realized that the success of any food product begins with flavor and consumer satisfaction. Evaluating consumer communication and primarily focusing on making food products enjoyable and desirable ensures people return. To ensure our flavors were spot on, we spent considerable time in key cuisine hotspots like Philadelphia and New York and traveled to Chicago, Los Angeles and other international locations. This allowed us to spot emerging trends in the fine dining and restaurant sectors that we could potentially integrate into our Applegate portfolio.

“Ensure your efforts truly benefit consumers in terms of both health and budget. Make sure you feel proud of the quality and impact of your work.”

Maintaining a strong health halo is crucial for credibility. To better understand consumer needs, we should regularly gather syndicated data and customer feedback. Close collaboration with research and development teams helps adjust products based on real-time market insights. This customer-focused approach will help businesses stay current and adapt to industry trends, such as allergen awareness. For instance, we partnered with Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) to ensure transparency and safety for individuals with food sensitivities.

Innovations in Convenience

Applegate is currently transforming the breakfast game with our innovative, on-the-go solutions. Last year, we launched new items like our APPLEGATE NATURALS® Frittata Bites, made from humanely raised eggs. Historically, we have been a meat and cheese-based organization. It was our first foray into eggs and has been phenomenally successful. We have noticed an increasing demand for on-the-go frozen breakfasts and are dedicating substantial resources to developing new products, which will be launched in the next 12 to 18 months.

Balancing Innovation and Regulatory Compliance

Businesses should partner with third-party auditors to ensure their practices meet all regulatory standards. Our company has led in this area, often exceeding industry requirements to substantiate our claims. For instance, we have consistently collaborated with organizations to verify our antibiotic-free and organic claims, ensuring transparency and trust. Through recent USDA guidance on antibiotic residue, companies making claims about antibiotic-free animal raising should collaborate with auditors to verify and test their products, ensuring their claims are accurate and compliant.

The Future of the Industry: Regenerative Agriculture

One of the most exciting growth areas within the broader food industry is regenerative agriculture. This approach to farming, which focuses on restoring soil health and sequestering carbon, offers hopeful environmental and health benefits. Regenerative agriculture could play a key role in addressing climate change while improving animal product nutrient density.

Initial research has shown that meat from animals raised through regenerative practices has higher nutrient density. We have launched a research initiative in partnership with the Hormel Institute and the University of Minnesota to explore whether these benefits also extend to human health. If confirmed, this could represent a major breakthrough in how the food industry approaches sustainability and nutrition.

Mantra to Follow for Industry Peers

I would suggest my peers stay engaged with the industry and think critically. My mantra is to look in the mirror and ask yourself if your efforts truly benefit consumers in terms of health and budget. Make sure you feel proud of the quality and impact of your work.