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Starbucks named 2014 Outstanding Corporate Innovator winner

August 4, 2014

The Product Development and Management Association today announced that it has awarded the 2014 Outstanding Corporate Innovator Award to Danish bioinnovation firm Novozymes and Seattle-based Starbucks. The companies were chosen for corporate commitment to innovation as a strategy to grow their businesses.

The OCI Award is the only innovation award which recognizes sustained (5 or more years) and quantifiable business results from new products and services. Including Starbucks and Novozymes, there have been 51 organizations to be granted the OCI Award since its inception in 1988. Past winners have included Clorox, FedEx, Xerox, DuPont and Harley Davidson.

Both organizations will deliver a presentation on their sustained innovation success at the PDMA annual Product Innovation Management conference in Denver in late October.

"The two 2014 winners have both created cultures where innovation is valued and entrepreneurship and risk taking are encouraged," said Sally Evans Kay, Chair, OCI Selection Committee, in a press release. "Both have developed unique practices and processes which have contributed to their innovation success and which they will share at PIM -- a rare 'under the hood' look at successful corporate innovators."

Starbucks was cited for innovation across the entire consumer experience and its strong emphasis on long-term platforms to create a multi-year pipeline. The OCI committee cited Starbucks' willingness to adopt processes such as its System to Accelerate Results and deep dives at the front end of the innovation process as key enablers to help test and measure new products and gauge customer interest. Starbucks has also achieved strong and sustained growth from platforms built upon equipment and technology advantages. Examples include Starbucks Frappuccino Blended Beverages, Starbucks Refreshers Beverages, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew and Starbucks Fizzio Handcrafted Sodas.

"We are honored to receive such a prestigious award that recognizes companies for encouraging innovation as part of their culture," Mary Wagner, Starbucks senior vice president of Global R&D/Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory, said in the release. "Innovation continues to be a core strength and we'll continue to leverage our internal processes to test and deliver breakthrough products, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience."