Our iconic brand Francine is set to shake up the ready-made meal aisle with three innovations that are unique on the market. Designed to simplify consumers’ daily lives, these are the first ready-made meals compatible with air fryers! And because it’s Francine, you’ll find all the brand’s expertise and commitments: 100% French production and the use of high-quality ingredients.
Behind every product launch lies a human and industrial adventure, made possible by the collaboration of numerous teams: Marketing, the Product Innovation Department (DIP), Supply Chain, Sales, Purchasing, Quality… and, for this launch, the production teams at the Briare plant.
These three new Francine meal kits are the result of a tremendous team effort, collaboration, and passion centered on a key priority for the brand: simplifying everyday cooking and helping everyone eat better! Designed to enhance every culinary moment throughout the seasons, these three innovations combine French manufacturing, high-quality ingredients, and quick preparation—along with a first on the market: they’re compatible with air fryers to meet consumers’ evolving needs. Head to stores now to try them out!
The Consumer at the Heart of the Strategy
This project began with a detailed analysis of consumer trends in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Since the brand aims to expand and, to that end, become a staple in everyday cooking, the Francine marketing team analyzed all market and consumer insights to create a new product offering aligned with this goal.
Key insights?
– The pursuit of speed,
– Increasingly convenient in the kitchen, quiches and tarts are among the dishes most commonly prepared by the French on weekdays,
– Ready-to-eat specialty breads are all the rage.
With that in mind, the brief was clear: to develop unique recipes that address these needs while embodying the brand’s commitments (made in France and using high-quality ingredients: French wheat, fair-trade cocoa). Three recipes were thus identified to support French consumers in the kitchen, no matter the season:
- Soft bagels that are ready in no time—just add water
- A crispy shortcrust pastry for quiches and tarts, ready in 5 minutes with just a splash of water
- A melt-in-your-mouth chocolate brownie that's super quick to make!
All of these are compatible with the Air Fryer, so you can save even more time in the kitchen.
The Challenge Taken on by the DIP
The Product Innovation Department (DIP) faced a technical and culinary challenge: to develop products that combine modern convenience with the authenticity of “homemade” food, while offering affordable options.
To achieve this, the DIP tested numerous recipes to develop the final formulas, ensuring optimal results in the kitchen. The major turning point in this project was adapting the recipes and instructions for use with the Air Fryer—a first on the market.
In collaboration with the Purchasing Department, we rigorously sourced raw materials to ensure respect for producers and the impeccable quality of every ingredient. It is thanks to this blend of technical rigor, ethics, and creativity that Francine was able to bring this project to life.
Our R&D expertise is based on comprehensive mastery of product development: formulation, laboratory testing, ingredient selection, and process validation. Through close collaboration among the various departments, I develop authentic, indulgent recipes tailored to market and production requirements.
From the Lab to the Production Line
Once the recipes were approved, the baton was passed to the production teams at our Briare plant. Bringing these innovations to scale required a certain degree of agility on the part of the production line operators and packaging teams.
Thanks to our unique expertise, our teams have ensured that the product is 100% made in France, thereby enhancing the Francine value chain from start to finish.
Check out these innovations in stores!
Check out these three new products in stores now—the result of a year of hard work by all our departments!
This project perfectly illustrates the Francine brand’s strategy: combining milling expertise, French heritage, and innovation, while staying closely attuned to consumer trends, in order to become THE go-to brand for everyday cooking.
