This report examines the issue of innovation in the flight catering industry. Using a variety of research methods, it seeks to identify the role that the three main stakeholders - suppliers, flight caterers and airlines – play in this process. It identifies that airlines have been pre-eminent in initiating innovation and have largely been concerned with service improvements. Suppliers have focused largely on new product development. Flight caterers have been less involved.

Findings from this study also demonstrate the highly contingent nature of the innovation process in firms associated with flight catering. Little evidence emerged that service innovation was different to product innovation, but the type of product may be influential. The size of the company also affects the process. The survey of managers helps to explain this diverse practice as it demonstrated a divergence of opinion on many issues. The only factors influencing the innovation process on which there was high level of agreement was the importance of the organisation culture, the role of a product champion, and the need for market research. There was also some support for the notion that large firms have a more formal innovation process.