Innovation is at the heart of the Kraft Foods business; however, we appreciate that we may not be able to meet all of our technology goals alone. As a result we have put together a list of our top priority business wants (our "Needs List") and have opened it up for all to see.
We are especially interested in ingredient, packaging, processing, complete product and technology solutions with our specific needs in each area listed on our website under the tab “What are we looking for ?”. Please take the time to browse this selection of active needs on this site. If you identify a need for which you believe you have a solution, click through to register and submit an idea. The list is always changing and active so keep checking back to see our latest open projects.
Our Innovation Team welcomes these new ideas, and sincerely hopes that you choose to share your ideas and innovations with us. That said, we want to make sure you fully understand Kraft’s process and rules about receiving such ideas.
While we understand that these rules might appear strict, they are necessary to protect both you and Kraft. Therefore, we ask you to carefully review all the information provided below, and only send us your idea or innovation if you are comfortable with our rules. We thank you in advance for considering Kraft as a recipient of your creative work!*
Types of Innovations We Are Looking For
Kraft is accepting ideas under this policy for new products, ingredients, packaging, technology and business processes and systems. We are most interested in ideas that are more than a concept, in particular new products, packages and innovative solutions that are ready to be brought to market (or can be brought to market quickly) and that closely align with our posted needs.
Although we very much appreciate recipes, entertainment ideas, ideas for line extensions for existing Kraft products or packages, ideas for advertising/promotions and the like, such ideas fall outside the scope of this policy and thus will not be reviewed by our Innovations Team or considered for compensation.
Background
Kraft’s Higher Purpose is to "make today delicious." So, as you might guess, Kraft continuously seeks to develop and market new food and food-related products that help us realize that vision.
Each year, Kraft receives many ideas from people and organizations outside our company. While we are always interested in new ideas, you should know that most of what we receive is not new to us. This is because, as you might guess, Kraft has a large staff of scientists and marketers who are continuously working to develop and improve our technology, ingredients, products, packaging and processes. Therefore, many submissions from "outside" Kraft actually duplicate Kraft's current or past research and development efforts. Many other ideas simply fall outside the scope of our business interests.
Protecting Your Ideas
Depending on the type of idea you have, you may have proprietary rights in it. Therefore, you should consider protecting it through patents or copyrights before submitting it to Kraft. To best understand whether you could obtain patent or copyright protection for your idea, you should consult with your own lawyer. Kraft employees are not authorized to consult with you on these matters. Further, because disclosing your idea to Kraft could affect your ability to obtain proprietary rights, please submit your idea to Kraft only after you have obtained the protection you feel is necessary.
Kraft’s General Policy Regarding Submitted Ideas
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Kraft will only review submissions on a non-confidential, no-obligation basis as set forth in the “Submission Agreement”.
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Submitting your idea to Kraft does not restrict you from submitting it to other companies.
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Kraft will only evaluate ideas that are submitted under the terms of the Submission Agreement.
Possible Compensation to You
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If Kraft is interested in using your idea or innovation and the idea is protected—or protectable—by a patent or copyright, we may negotiate with you for license rights or some type of collaborative development agreement. Your compensation will be determined as a part of those negotiations.
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If Kraft is interested in using your idea and it is not protected (or protectable) by a patent or copyright, but is new to Kraft and we adopt it, Kraft may, at its sole discretion, grant you a nominal award. In no case will that nominal award exceed $5000 US.
Kraft’s Process for Submitting and Reviewing Submissions
1. You will need to register on the site before you can submit an idea or innovation online. After registering and immediately before submission of your first idea or innovation, you will be required to confirm that you have read and acknowledge your acceptance of the terms of the Submission Agreement & Data Privacy Statement. This confirmation will apply to all future submissions as well.
2. Once you have confirmed acceptance, you can complete the brief "Idea Submission Form" as well as uploading an accompanying document, both of which should provide non-confidential information necessary for Kraft to do an initial evaluation of your idea.
If you have downloaded the submission form and will be mailing the form, you should mail the signed Submission Agreement, Idea Submission Form and any additional documentation you feel is necessary to: Steven Goers, VP Open Innovation, Kraft Foods, One Kraft Court, Glenview, IL. 60025.
3. If you have submitted via the website, your submission will go directly to the appropriate Kraft person to assess our level of interest in your solution to our published need. If you have submitted an idea that is not aligned with a published need, your submission will be reviewed, and if appropriate, shared internally for further assessment of interest.
If you submit via the mail, once Kraft receives the Submission Agreement and Idea Submission Form, your idea will go to the appropriate Kraft person to assess our level of interest.
In either case, if we need additional information to further assess our level of interest, and you consider the additional information to be confidential, Kraft, at our option, may enter into a written confidentiality agreement with you at that point to obtain it. (Most of the time, non-confidential disclosures are sufficient for Kraft to determine its level of interest, so in the vast majority of situations, confidentiality agreements will not be necessary).
4. Kraft will try to report back to you with the results of its evaluation in about six weeks, although some evaluations take longer. Under no circumstances will Kraft be obligated to reveal the details of its evaluation.
5. Personal interviews are not necessary in most cases, but if an interview becomes necessary, it will most likely take place at a Kraft corporate location in the New York, NY, Chicago, IL or Madison, WI areas.
Data Privacy
By registering and submitting an idea or innovation to Kraft Foods through this site, you are sharing personal data with us that may need to be shared with other Kraft employees or third parties providing services to Kraft Foods in support of this website and our evaluation process. We take significant precautions to insure the security of your personal information and everyone involved is subject to the provisions of our Data Privacy Policy. Please take the time to review this policy before submitting your idea or innovation.
SUBMISSION AGREEMENT
I have read Kraft’s policy on submissions, called Submitting Ideas to Kraft and I understand its contents. I also understand that any submission (including all submitted supporting information and materials, collectively referred to as the “Idea”) that I submit to Kraft is subject to the following terms and conditions:
1. I am submitting my Idea to Kraft on a non-confidential basis, and I agree that there will be no confidential relationship of any kind between Kraft and me unless we separately agree to that in writing.
2. Kraft is not obligated to keep secret any information that I submit under this agreement, and Kraft may retain all materials I submit.
3. I agree that the Idea I submit is protected only to the extent that it is now or later protected under copyright and/or patent laws.
4. Kraft has the unrestricted right to use and disclose any submitted materials.
5. Kraft is not obligated to adopt my Idea or to compensate me.
6. I am the sole originator/owner of this Idea and/or have all necessary rights to disclose it to Kraft.
7. I am at least 18 years old (Any program participant who is younger than 18 must submit by mail, requiring the signature of a parent or guardian confirming his/her acceptance of the Submission Agreement on their behalf. You can download the Submission Packet here)
8. This Submission Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Kraft and me pertaining to this Idea.
9. To be effective, any change to this Submission Agreement must be approved in writing by an officer of Kraft.
10. This Submission Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state of Illinois, U.S.A.
Data Privacy Statement
I acknowledge I am providing personal data to Kraft Foods by using the Kraft Foods Collaboration Kitchen website. I have read and agree to the Kraft Foods Data Privacy Policy. I can revoke my agreement at any time and request removal of my personal information as set out in the Data Privacy Policy.
*This policy does not apply to Kraft Foods' employees, vendors or suppliers. Employees should discuss ideas with their manager. Current vendors and suppliers should discuss process and policy for submitting ideas with their Kraft contacts.
Download, print and mail submission packet