SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 10, 2025 – Innovation might sound like a corporate cliché, but for Dr. Deepali Palta, VP Global R&D Innovation and Sustainability at Kellanova, it’s something far more practical: a way to create food that genuinely fits people’s lives, delivers real business value and uses technology with intention rather than hype.
Designing food for real lives, not just for shelves
For Palta, food is never just fuel. Growing up in India, she still remembers the comfort and warmth of her mom’s aloo paranthas — a reminder that food carries memories, emotions and meaning. That emotional connection is now built into how she approaches every new idea: snacks and products should feel like they belong in people’s daily rituals, not just in a marketing campaign.
To keep that focus sharp, she uses a simple three-part lens: Consumer, Business, Technology (CBT). It’s a framework that asks three questions in parallel:
- Does this solve something real for people?
- Is there a clear path to sustainable growth?
- Can technology enable it in a smart, purposeful way?
When all three answers line up, she argues, innovation stops being abstract and starts becoming something you can taste, hold and share.
Listening to fans, then moving fast
One of the clearest examples is the return of Pringles Dill Pickle. After the flavor disappeared, fans didn’t just complain quietly — they turned it into a viral moment, fueled by the rise of #PickleTok. Instead of treating that buzz as a passing trend, Kellanova read it as a loud, emotional signal and brought the flavor back.
That comeback shows how the “Consumer” lens works in practice: when people are clearly telling you what they want, the most powerful innovation is sometimes simply listening — and acting quickly enough to turn that energy into a win for both shoppers and the brand.
When bold ideas also grow the business
Of course, no idea survives on excitement alone. Palta is very clear that meaningful innovation has to unlock new growth, not just novelty. That’s where the “Business” lens comes in: every project is judged on whether it can open new segments, strengthen brand relevance or expand distribution in a smart way.
Pringles Hot Ones® is a good example. The collaboration taps into the booming spicy snack trend and the cultural pull of a well-known hot sauce franchise. The result: a product that gives fans something fun and daring to try, while also helping Kellanova deepen its presence in a fast-growing flavor space.
Technology that solves problems, not just decorates them
Behind the scenes, technology quietly shapes many of these launches. In Palta’s world, though, tech is only worth celebrating if it genuinely solves a problem.
One standout project is the Gluten-free Original Cheez-It crackers expected on shelves in 2026. The goal is simple but demanding: give people who avoid gluten a version that stays as close as possible to the iconic cheesy, crunchy, salty profile they already love. That means leaning on advanced formulation, careful testing and food science that serves flavor first.
Digital tools and AI are part of the picture too — helping decode emerging trends, accelerate recipe development and refine packaging. But they’re used with guardrails: transparency, explainability and human oversight remain non-negotiable, so that data supports good judgment rather than replacing it.
Editorial extra: 3 ways purposeful food innovation shows up in your daily life
- More “you” flavors
From spicy collabs to fan-favorite comebacks, launches increasingly reflect how people actually snack, share and talk online. - Options that match your lifestyle
Whether you’re gluten-free, more health-conscious or just busy, innovation is creating choices that fit different needs without feeling like a downgrade. - Packaging that feels smarter, not wasteful
Projects like the recyclable Pringles paper can show how sustainability is being baked into design from the start, not bolted on at the end.
Sustainability as the starting line, not the finish
For Kellanova, sustainability is becoming a default design principle. The recyclable Pringles paper can, tested in the UK in 2020 and expanded across Europe in 2023, is a strong example of how packaging innovation can protect freshness and production efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
That can only happen through deep collaboration between global and regional R&D teams, supply chain experts and external partners. For Palta, that kind of teamwork isn’t a “nice-to-have” — it’s the only way to create solutions that work in real factories, real stores and real homes.
Ultimately, her view of innovation is disarmingly simple: start with what people truly need and feel, make sure it grows the business sustainably, let technology and sustainability strengthen the idea, and build it together across disciplines. Do that consistently, and you don’t just launch new products — you quietly reshape the future of food, one bite at a time.
Learn more about Kellanova’s approach to innovation, sustainability and food experiences at https://www.kellanova.com.