BC Ministry of Health
Document 32445
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PROPOSAL FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
AND MARKETING RESEARCH CONFERENCE
AT SOUTHAMPTON
BACKGROUND
GRDC are currently doing much work in the areas of basic
cigarette research, cigarette product development and
analysis of why and how the smoker smokes. Much product
development and innovative market research are also being
pursued in such B.A.T. member companies as Australia,
Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the U.S. and the U.K. Our
multinational competitors are extremely active ~n the areas
of product development and'innovative market research. The
proposed conference would permit the marketing people in
the member companies who are responsible for those two
areas to (1} compare notes and exchange ideas and technology,
(2) determine what information and developments are currently
available at Southampton and (3) help guide GRDC's future
act~.vities in the areas of basic research, product development
and analysls of the smoker.
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
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OP~ANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE
Locatlo-:
Duration:
Southampton or nearby
Maximum one week
Participants:
- Southampton R & D - smoking behaviottr section,
eg. Messrs. Wood and Thornton.
- Product development people, eg. Messrs. Haslam
(Millbank), Conway, Hook and Horsewell.
- Smoking behaviour consultant - Dr. 01dman.
- Others from R & D to present papers and
participate as required.
- Member companies: Canada, Germanyw Switzerland,
U.S., U.K. and Australia.
- From each company= Marketing Manager, Market
Research Manager and Product Development Manager.
- Possibly, some invited speakers from outside
B.A.T., eg. Dr. Russell, Mr. Burak (Market Facts
Canada|, Dr. McKenne11.
SUBJECT MATTER
It is important that the participants work toward ˘le~ly
~efi~ed goals but that the conference not be over-structured.
• All participants should be extremely free and open in discussing
new product plans and research techniques. It would be a work-
shop type conference and would cover the followlng areas:
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
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Product Development=
a} Top priority product development areas both
short term and long term indicated by GRDC
and each member company.
b) Discussion of development areas and agreement
on those areas where GRDC can best contribute
to local company R & D efforts.
c} Exchange of information on current progress
in product development areas.
d) Discussion of basic marketing theories which
seem to best explain current trends in the
more sophisticated markets as well as probable
future evolution in those markets in terms of
product innovations.
e) Evaluation of B.A.T. group's success in develop-
ment of new product technology relatlve to our
princlpal multinational competitors.
f} Opening of channels of formal and informal
communication among member companies and with
GRDC to permit continuing exchange of information
on product and market research innovations.
(2)
Market Research
a) Exchange of Łnformatlon on new research techniques,
particularly those that improve our basic under-
standing of the market.
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
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Examples of such techniques aret
- Brand image measurement
- Market ~egmentation studies
- Smoker motivation research -
- Research on Smoking & Health and social
acceptance of smoking
- Research on brand switching
- Assessment of new product concepts
- Trade-off analysis
GRDC has an on-going basic research program
entitled "The Interaction of Smoke and the
Smoker", which should eventually prove extremely
beneficial to all member companies. That program
should be discussed thoroughly including such
areas as bio-feedback techniques; smoke profiles~
personality studies of smokers, quitters and non-
smokers~ smoker motivation studles~ the role of
nicotine, etc. The conferees should then agree on
how best.such basic research conducted by GRDC can
benefit the member companies, determine which
activities should be augmente~ and which are ~robably
of a lower priority in marketing terms, Th~ basic
goal will be to give B.A.T. an international
competitive advantage over its competitors.
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 13 November 2000
BAT INDUSTRIES
00290403
