isi will present 3 scientific research topics at the Eurosense 2010
The Fourth European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research “A Sense of Quality” will take place in Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain from 5th to 8th September.
Following up the past years tradition, isi Sensory Analysis will be actively contributing to this conference with actual scientific topics. All three submitted abstracts have been accepted by the Scientific Committee. This can be seen as a further proof of isi’s leading position in the development and application of state-of-the-art methods in the field of Sensory Marketing; an advantage which is beneficial for all isi clients.
The cooperation project regarding the “Identification of Sensory Codes by using Sensory Analysis and Time-Reaction Measurement of Product Associations” was accepted for an oral presentation.
Moreover, isi is presenting two research projects as posters:

• “Implicit measurement of different concept elements using choice-based-conjoint analysis”
• “Predicting the ideal texture of “French Fries” by analytical measurements?”

All interested persons are kindly invited to discuss these innovative approaches with us during the conference and to find out more about the increasing importance of methods for the measurement of implicit associations which are triggered during consumption / product contact.

isi opens sensory lab in Hamburg
Since the end of October 2009 we now offer sensory research in Hamburg, too. In addition to Goettingen, Cologne, and Munich we are represented at another major location with it. Of course we also meet the high standards of sensory product tests in this new facility with its 10 test places. The lab is run in cooperation with Markt Research at the "Seeburg", a historic Kontor house in the heart of Hamburg (Spitalerstr., next to Mönckebergstr.).

Open Day at isi
On August 14th, more than 500 visitors took an opportunity to look behind the scenes of market research for food products. Many different tests were arranged in the two sensory labs at our headquarter. It was demonstrated how red light influences the colour perception of food, people could try to distinguish the basic tastes and to identify different odours. Beyond that, children could playfully learn how one percepts odours and flavours. The open day was accompanied by an entertaining programm with great attractions for children, barbecue, cold drinks, and a musical highlight: the gig of Bernd & Bernie-Band with isi co-founder Bernd Schubert.

further impressions ...

isi in the focus of the sensory science community
As sole German institute, isi was present both as exhibitor and with oral presentations at the 2009 Pangborn Symposium at Florence. With this isi confirms its leading position as specialist for Sensory Marketing in Germany.

Business partners, scientists and interested persons received detailed information about the isi methods in the area of Sensory Marketing and the most recent approaches at the exhibition stand. Additionally to that, the Mobile Sensory Booth was presented as world innovation to a broad audience.

In two scietific presentations innovative research results about the usage of implicit test methods (abstract) and about the application of the Kano satisfaction model in the Sensory Science (abstract) were shown to the participants. The fact that both handed-in abstracts were selected for oral presentations by the jury proves the innovation strength of isi in developing new methods.

World innovation: the mobile sensory booth
At this years Pangborn Symposium in Florence, isi presents the new mobile sensory booth for the first time. The booth allows conducting sensory tests at places where no sensory laboratory is available. The booth is applied for a patent. Here you can get further information about the booth's features.

isi Sensory Analysis attends this years Pangborn Symposium in Florence (Italy) as lecturer and exhibitor
This years Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium takes place from July, 26th to 30th, in Florence, Italy. isi Sensory Analysis submitted two research papers which both were accepted for presentation by the reviewers. Alexander Bialkowski will be talking about the application of the Kano model to Sensory Science (link to the abstract) and our graduand Alexandra Kraus will present a study on measuring implicit associations in sensory research (link to the abstract). Both lectures take up the trend of a close integration of marketing and sensory analysis. They substantiate the leadership role of isi's practice-oriented research in this area.
As exhibitor, isi Sensory Analysis will present its innovative research approaches and will demonstrate the use of a mobile sensory test place for the first time.

Foundation of new business branches of isi GmbH
In order to account for our dynamic growth in the last few years and optimally facilitate the inclusion of the previous area managers Robert Möslein and Joachim Haag as partners with respect to organization and taxes, we founded two new companies on 01/01/2009:

• isi Sensory Analysis GmbH and Co. KG, led by managing directors Robert Möslein and Dr. Hans-Peter Volkmer: acts as consultant and takes care of all your projects concerning sensory product research.
• isi Marketing Research GmbH and Co. KG, led by managing directors Joachim Haag and Dr. Hans-Peter Volkmer: acts as consultant and takes care of all your projects concerning quantitative and qualitative market research.

As before, our customers will retain their usual contact persons and all their familiar contact information and can continue to rely on the fact that our interdisciplinary isi-team will optimally focus its energy depending on the requirements of the project.

Market research trade show in Munich
isi has had a stand at the market research trade show Research & Results in Munich again. Besides a workshop on "High Speed Product Development with isilab" we conducted a chocolate test in a mobile test cubicle at our booth.

Opening of our sensory lab in Munich
In the evening before the trade show we celebrated the official opening of our sensory lab in Munich and the neighboured test studio of our partner Quovadis field & tab. On three floors next to the famous Stachus we ensured an entertaining evening with live music, culinary delight, short lectures, as well as taste and sniff tests.

Lecture on European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research
Anne Hoffmann gave a lecture on "Stress Ratio between internal and external validity in affective consumer tests" at this year's Third European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research (September 7th to 10th) in Hamburg. You can download pdf-files with the abstract and the complete script.

isi started with two new sensory labs in Göttingen und Munich
In August 2008, isi opened two further sensory labs. The headquarters in Göttingen now has a second lab with 14 additional and fully equipped test cabins, a modern lab kitchen and a storage room including a cold store. In the city centre of Munich we opened a lab with 12 new test cabins, a modern equipped lab kitchen and a storage room.

Additional isi Sensory Laboratories under construction
The permanently increasing demand for sensory tests and for qualitative and quantitative market research projects leads to a considerable expansion of the offices and the sensory testing facilities of isi. Two additional Sensory Laboratories will be opened in Goettingen and Munich in the second quarter of 2008.

In Goettingen, the head office of isi, a three-floor new building (see photo) is progressing, providing a new Lab with 12 booths, a professional Focus Group room with modern viewing facilities and an exclusive client lounge. Extensive offices and a fitness room for the isi team will complete the new premises.

The construction of a further Sensory Laboratory at Munich, the “capital” of the southern part of Germany, is the logical consequence after the change of Olaf Biedekarken to isi. This fourth isi Lab at a prominent location in Munich provides the professional testing environment which is comparable with the other isi Sensory Laboratories. As already approved at Cologne, sensory tests will be carried out in cooperation with the fieldwork specialist Quovadis Field & Tab GmbH starting in August 2008.

Olaf Biedekarken joins the isi team as Director Sensory Analysis
Olaf Biedekarken, former Vice President at SAM ASAP Sensory and Marketing Germany GmbH, has changed to isi since January 1st 2008. He will strengthen the expertise in Sensory Analysis as Director Sensory Analysis and lead the new isi office at Munich. The 40-years old Marketing expert has more than 15 years experience in Consulting in the area of Sensory Analysis for food and nonfood products.

isi exhibited at the market research trade show "Research & Results" in Munich from November 20th to 21st. Numerous visitors have been at our stand to inform about our research offering. Andreas Scharf gave a speech on "Integrated concept and product improvement: effective innovation by developing an ideal concept-product-fit".

New logo for isi
The time has come for isi to retire its current logo, which has served us well for the last twelve years, and introduce a fresh new look. Our goal was to create a less stylized and more modern, natural and open brand logo that better conveys our core competencies marketing research, marketing consulting & sensory analysis beyond the German borders. We think our new logo achieves this goal very well and hope you like it as much as we do.

New isi product: the isi 48-hour concept test
We’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about our newest product: the isi 48-hour concept test. In 48 hours, we can give you a statistically valid estimate of the potential for success of up to four new or modified product concepts. The results are based on a standardized online questionnaire, parts of which can be tailored to meet specific information needs, and a sample of n=600 respondents. To find out how the isi 48-hour concept test can give you tailored information and statistically valid results in 48 hours, click here (pdf file).

Food Manufacture reports on sensory research at ESN member isi.
(Article first published in Food Manufacture May 2007 and reproduced courtesy of © William Reed Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.)

January 2007

At January 26th 2007, isi GmbH opened its new sensory lab in Cologne in cooperation with Quovadis field & tab. You can find the impressions of the opening here. The rooms are located in the city center of Cologne (Schildergasse 24-30). They are equipped state of the art and in confirmity with DIN 10962 (requirements concerning sensory testing rooms). Thus, we are able to offer standardised sensory tests in proved quality in the metropolis of Cologne, too.

On the occasion of the opening, the German journal Research & Results printed an interview with Andreas Scharf on the relevance of sensory product research within the scope of marketing. The German interview can be downloaded here.

The headquarter of isi GmbH has been enlarged by a building extension. In May 2006, we moved into the eight new workplaces. The extension hosts an additional room for focus groups which is equipped with modern observation and video technique and thus allows our customers to watch the discussions undercover.