Puratos launches mobile lab in North America

February 7, 2011, Canada – Puratos’ Sensobus, a mobile sensory analysis laboratory, is now on the road in Canada and the United States.

For the past seven years, the Sensobus has been crisscrossing the European continent, charting consumer preferences across a range of products. With the arrival of the Sensobus concept in North America, Puratos customers can conduct tailor-made sensory analysis projects anywhere in Canada and the United States. 

Consumers participating in food research sit at one of eight individual sensory tasting booths, where they are presented with a selection of bakery, patisseries or chocolate prototypes. They are then asked questions such as “Does the product look appetizing?”, “Which bread do you prefer?” or “How much would you pay for this chocolate cake?”. In addition to mapping product characteristics, Puratos can precisely determine and explain which products best match consumer expectations to ensure that new product launches are a hit.

Up to 300 consumers per day can take part in research on board the mobile lab. Puratos is aiming to gather opinions from over 25,000 Canadian and American consumers in the first year of the Sensobus’ operation.

The Sensobus can be set up anywhere, including supermarkets, shopping centres and at events.