Crisp producer Fairfields Farm has opened recruitment for the 2026 intake of its Secret Crisp Committee, the consumer taste panel that shapes the brand’s limited-edition flavour development. Launched last year as a one-off flavour trial, the initiative attracted more than 1,000 applications. Selected members were sent unmarked foil sample bags to taste, score and vote on, with the resulting shortlist producing Cajun Barbecue flavour – the brand’s first ever ridge-cut crisp and its limited-edition flavour for summer 2026.
For 2026, Fairfields Farm is expanding the programme in both scale and structure. Applications opened on Monday 7 September and will close at midnight on Monday 14 September, with successful members selected and silver foil samples despatched from the week commencing 21 September. Committee feedback will be collated through October and will directly inform the brand’s limited-edition flavour for 2027, with the panel also providing an opportunity for Fairfields Farm to gather consumer insight on its wider range and future product development.
The committee is also moving to a tiered structure designed to keep members engaged year-round rather than for a single flavour trial. Alongside the core Secret Crisp Committee, a second tier – the Field Agents – gives a wider group of consumers access to exclusive newsletters, competitions, seasonal product drops and merchandise, recognising the brand’s most active advocates. For retail and wholesale partners, the programme gives Fairfields Farm a route to structured consumer feedback ahead of launch, a growing first-party database and a body of consumer-generated content to support listings and in-store activity.
“Bringing our customers into the development process has changed how we approach NPD," said Tash Jones, Commercial Director. "Cajun Barbecue flavour went to market already validated by some of Fairfields Farm’s most loyal fans, and that gives us and our customers real confidence in a limited-edition launch. Growing the committee into a year-round community means we’re not just testing flavours once a year - we’re in constant conversation with the people buying our crisps.”
The recruitment drive lands as Fairfields Farm marks 20 years in business this October. The family-run producer grows its own potatoes and cooks, seasons and packs its crisps on site at its farm in Essex.
Applications close at midnight on Monday 14 September 2026. Entries are now open via webform: https://form.typeform.com/to/Kxu5vBIR