Consumer goods giants including L’Oréal and Mondelez are using artificial intelligence to develop new products faster.
L’Oréal said AI has helped it create products four times faster than before by identifying molecules in skincare products that can be repurposed for use in shampoo.
The French beauty giant, which started using AI in its laboratories four years ago, has used the technology to predict how ingredients will affect skin and hair.
One recent innovation involved repurposing molecules used in skincare for a shampoo that uses collagen to add lift and fullness to hair.
L’Oréal consumer products president Fabrice Megarbane told Reuters that AI was helping the business move more quickly by identifying new combinations of molecules and new product benefits.
The push comes after L’Oréal chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus launched a “beauty stimulus plan” last year to accelerate innovation following the group’s slowest sales growth in years.
Mondelez, the owner of Cadbury, Toblerone, Oreo and Chips Ahoy, has also been using AI to speed up recipe development.
The snack giant said its AI tool can generate recipe ideas, including more unusual combinations, before they are assessed by human experts.
Mondelez chief information and digital officer Filippo Catalano said the technology was helping the business compress product development timelines from “months to weeks” or “years to months”.
The company said AI had helped develop its Gluten Free Golden Oreo cookies and a refreshed recipe for Chips Ahoy.
In biscuits, Mondelez said 60 per cent of recipes produced using its AI tool performed better across areas including nutrition, sustainability and cost.
Catalano said AI could also help reduce reliance on single-source supply chains by allowing companies to adapt formulas more quickly when ingredients or consumer preferences change.
Other major consumer goods firms, including Nescafé owner Nestlé, Sensodyne maker Haleon and chocolate maker Mondelez, are also using AI across product innovation.
The shift reflects growing pressure on consumer goods businesses to bring products to market faster while controlling costs and keeping up with changing demand.
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