Jobs to be Done (JTBD)
for Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats (ISIC 1040)
The industry's commodity nature, high competition (MD07, MD08), and pressure on margins (MD03) make JTBD highly relevant. It offers a powerful lens to move beyond price-based competition by uncovering unarticulated customer needs and delivering differentiated value. The 'primary' relevance indicated...
Why This Strategy Applies
A methodology for understanding the functional, emotional, and social 'job' a customer is truly trying to get done, which leads to innovation opportunities.
GTIAS pillars this strategy draws on — and this industry's average score per pillar
These pillar scores reflect Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats's structural characteristics. Higher scores indicate greater complexity or risk — see the full scorecard for all 81 attributes.
What this industry needs to get done
When operating processing facilities, I want to minimize input waste and maximize output yield, so I can improve cost-efficiency and profitability.
High variability in raw material quality and processing parameters leads to inconsistent yields and increased waste, directly impacting profitability in a margin-sensitive industry (MD03: 5/5 Price Formation Architecture).
- Raw material conversion rate increase
- Energy consumption per unit produced decrease
When developing new food or cosmetic products, I want to source specialty oils and fats that meet specific functional requirements (e.g., emulsification, texture), so I can innovate and overcome formulation challenges.
Lack of readily available tailored oil and fat solutions forces extensive in-house R&D and compromises on 'clean label' goals, slowing down product development and hindering market relevancy (MD01: 2/5 Market Obsolescence & Substitution Risk).
- New product development cycle time reduction
- Formulation success rate increase
When choosing an oil and fat supplier, I want to ensure their products are sourced ethically and sustainably, so I can maintain my brand reputation and comply with consumer expectations/regulations.
Difficulty in verifying the provenance and sustainability claims of raw materials across complex global supply chains exposes businesses to significant reputational damage and regulatory fines (CS04: 4/5 Ethical/Religious Compliance Rigidity, CS05: 3/5 Labor Integrity & Modern Slavery Risk).
- Third-party sustainability audit compliance score improvement
- Negative media mentions related to sourcing decrease
When managing raw material procurement, I want to have confidence in the consistent and timely delivery of ingredients, so I can ensure uninterrupted production and avoid costly disruptions.
Volatile global trade networks and geopolitical factors introduce significant uncertainty into raw material supply, threatening production schedules and requiring constant monitoring (MD02: 5/5 Trade Network Topology & Interdependence, MD04: 4/5 Temporal Synchronization Constraints).
- Raw material delivery reliability % increase
- Production line downtime due to material shortages decrease
When selling oils and fats globally, I want to ensure full compliance with diverse international food safety, labeling, and import/export regulations, so I can access new markets and avoid legal penalties.
The complexity and constant evolution of global regulatory frameworks make it challenging to maintain compliance and prepare accurate documentation for each market, hindering international trade (CS04: 4/5 Ethical/Religious Compliance Rigidity).
- Regulatory non-compliance incidents reduction
- Market access approval lead time reduction
When making long-term investment and market expansion decisions, I want to have a clear understanding of emerging market trends and competitive dynamics, so I can allocate resources effectively and maintain market relevancy.
The rapid pace of market changes and potential for new substitutes makes strategic foresight difficult, leading to fear of misdirected investments and market obsolescence (MD01: 2/5 Market Obsolescence & Substitution Risk).
- ROI on strategic investments increase
- Market share stability/growth
When interacting with B2B customers, I want to be perceived as a reliable, innovative, and value-adding partner, so I can foster long-term relationships and secure repeat business.
In a commodity-driven market, differentiating purely on product can be difficult, leading to transactional relationships rather than true partnerships and intense price competition (MD03: 5/5 Price Formation Architecture).
- Customer retention rate increase
- Net Promoter Score (NPS) improvement
When managing operational expenses, I want to effectively control input costs and optimize production processes, so I can mitigate margin erosion and ensure business profitability.
High volatility in raw material prices and energy costs, coupled with intense competition, constantly squeezes profit margins and pressures operational efficiency (MD03: 5/5 Price Formation Architecture).
- Gross profit margin % increase
- Cost of goods sold (COGS) per unit decrease
When processing raw materials, I want to find economically viable ways to utilize by-products and waste streams, so I can reduce environmental impact and unlock new revenue sources.
Significant volumes of processing by-products often become costly waste, representing lost value and environmental burden, particularly in large-scale industrial operations (PM03: Industrial Archetype).
- Waste-to-revenue conversion rate increase
- Landfill waste volume decrease
When managing human resources, I want to ensure a safe, fair, and engaging work environment, so I can attract and retain skilled talent and avoid labor disputes.
Concerns about labor conditions and safety in industrial settings, especially related to physical work or chemical handling, can lead to high turnover and negative public perception, impacting workforce elasticity (CS05: 3/5 Labor Integrity & Modern Slavery Risk, CS08: 3/5 Demographic Dependency & Workforce Elasticity).
- Employee turnover rate decrease
- Workplace safety incident rate decrease
When developing new product offerings, I want to align with evolving consumer preferences for healthier and functional ingredients, so I can capture new market segments and drive growth.
Shifting consumer perceptions and scientific discoveries regarding the health impacts of fats require continuous product innovation and clear communication, which can be slow and resource-intensive, impacting market relevance (Key Insight: 'Health & Wellness as a Primary Consumer Job').
- Market share in health-focused segments increase
- New product introduction success rate increase
When planning sales and distribution, I want to confidently navigate complex trade networks and distribution channels, so I can reliably get products to diverse geographic markets.
The intricate and interdependent nature of global trade networks (MD02: 5/5 Trade Network Topology & Interdependence) and varied distribution architectures (MD06: 4/5 Distribution Channel Architecture) can create uncertainty and friction in market entry and expansion strategies.
- New market entry success rate increase
- Distribution channel efficiency improvement
Strategic Overview
The 'Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats' industry, characterized by significant challenges such as 'Margin Erosion & Profitability Pressure' (MD03) and the constant need for 'Maintaining Market Relevancy & Share' (MD01), can greatly benefit from a Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework. This approach shifts the focus from selling undifferentiated commodities to understanding the deeper functional, emotional, and social 'jobs' that B2B customers (e.g., food manufacturers, cosmetic companies) and end-consumers are trying to accomplish through the use of oils and fats. By uncovering these underlying needs, companies can innovate beyond price competition and develop highly differentiated, value-added products and services.
Applying JTBD allows industry players to move past traditional product categories and raw material specifications to identify unmet needs in areas like clean-label formulation, specific texture creation, shelf-life extension, nutritional enhancement, or ethical sourcing. This customer-centric perspective is crucial for 'Investment in R&D and Product Diversification' (MD01) that truly resonates with the market, enabling firms to command premium pricing and mitigate the impact of 'Extreme Raw Material Price Volatility' (MD03). It fosters innovation that solves genuine problems, leading to stronger market positioning and resilience against substitution risks.
4 strategic insights for this industry
Functional Versatility as a Core Job for B2B Customers
B2B customers, such as food manufacturers, are 'hiring' oils and fats to perform complex functional jobs like emulsification, aeration, texturization, and flavor carrying, often seeking tailored solutions that overcome formulation challenges or enable 'clean label' claims. This extends beyond basic ingredient supply, addressing their need for 'Investment in R&D and Product Diversification' (MD01) by providing novel solutions.
Health & Wellness as a Primary Consumer Job
End-consumers increasingly 'hire' oils and fats to support specific health objectives (e.g., heart health, gut health, weight management, anti-inflammatory properties) or to align with dietary preferences (e.g., keto, vegan). This moves beyond simple cooking or dietary fat intake, pushing demand for fortified, specialty, or naturally beneficial oils and fats, thereby 'Maintaining Market Relevancy & Share' (MD01).
Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing as a Social/Emotional Job
Both B2B and B2C customers are 'hiring' oils and fats that align with their ethical values, particularly concerning environmental impact (e.g., deforestation for palm oil), animal welfare, and fair labor practices (CS05). The 'job' here is to consume responsibly and avoid 'Reputational Damage & Brand Erosion' (MD01, CS03). This transcends functional requirements, impacting market access and consumer trust.
Operational Efficiency as an Unmet B2B Job
Industrial customers seek oils and fats that simplify their production processes, reduce waste, improve yield, and ensure consistent quality, thereby contributing to their own operational efficiency and cost management. The 'job' is to minimize 'Operational Inefficiencies' (PM01) and reduce the 'High Inventory Costs & Risks' (MD04) associated with complex raw material handling.
Prioritized actions for this industry
Establish dedicated 'Job Discovery' units or cross-functional teams.
To deeply understand the functional, emotional, and social jobs customers are trying to get done, companies need to move beyond traditional market research. This involves ethnographic studies, in-depth interviews, and observation of customers in their natural environment. This directly feeds 'Investment in R&D and Product Diversification' (MD01).
Develop a portfolio of specialty oils and fats tailored to specific customer jobs.
Instead of offering generic commodities, create products designed to solve precise customer problems. For example, a fat blend engineered for optimal crispiness in specific snack applications, or an oil designed to enhance nutrient absorption. This differentiation will mitigate 'Margin Erosion & Profitability Pressure' (MD03) and create competitive advantage.
Integrate transparent and ethical sourcing narratives into product value propositions.
Address the social and emotional jobs related to sustainability and ethics. Clearly communicate the origin, processing methods, and social/environmental impact of products. This builds trust, enhances brand reputation (MD01), and can differentiate products in a commoditized market, mitigating 'Reputational Damage & Brand Erosion' (CS03).
Offer technical co-creation services and formulation support to B2B clients.
Beyond just supplying ingredients, become a solution partner. Help B2B clients formulate innovative products, optimize their processes, and overcome technical challenges using your specialized oils and fats. This moves up the value chain, builds stronger relationships, and unlocks premium pricing, addressing 'Margin Erosion & Profitability Pressure' (MD03).
From quick wins to long-term transformation
- Conduct initial qualitative interviews with key B2B customers and lead users to identify latent 'jobs'.
- Analyze customer complaints and support tickets for recurring problems that indicate unmet jobs.
- Map existing product offerings against identified customer 'jobs' to highlight gaps and overlaps.
- Pilot R&D projects focused on developing novel oil compositions or processing techniques to address specific, high-priority jobs.
- Develop targeted marketing and sales materials that articulate how products help customers 'get the job done' rather than just listing features.
- Invest in analytical capabilities to measure functional performance of oils relevant to B2B customer applications (e.g., oxidation stability, crystallization profiles).
- Realign product development roadmaps and R&D budgets based on a comprehensive understanding of customer jobs, shifting focus from internal capabilities to market needs.
- Build strategic partnerships with food tech companies or specialized ingredient developers to co-create solutions for complex 'jobs'.
- Transform sales and technical support teams into 'job consultants' who can diagnose customer challenges and offer tailored solutions.
- Confusing 'jobs' with product features or customer demographics; a job is stable over time, products are transient solutions.
- Only focusing on functional jobs and ignoring crucial emotional or social jobs.
- Failing to conduct deep customer research, instead relying on anecdotal evidence or internal assumptions.
- Developing new products without clear market validation of the 'job' they are solving, leading to wasted R&D investment.
Measuring strategic progress
| Metric | Description | Target Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| New Product Success Rate | Percentage of new products (designed to address specific jobs) that meet revenue or market share targets within their first year. | Target >60% success rate for job-oriented new products. |
| Customer Retention Rate (B2B) | Measures the percentage of B2B customers who continue to purchase products over a given period, indicating satisfaction with solutions to their 'jobs'. | Maintain or increase B2B retention by 5-10% year-over-year in targeted segments. |
| Revenue from Value-Added/Specialty Products | Proportion of total revenue generated from products specifically designed to address identified customer jobs, often commanding higher margins. | Increase share of revenue from specialty products by 15% annually. |
| Net Promoter Score (NPS) or Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) | Measures customer loyalty and satisfaction, reflecting how well products are 'getting the job done' for them. | Achieve NPS scores >50 or CSAT scores >85% for key customer segments. |
Software to support this strategy
These tools are recommended across the strategic actions above. Each has been matched based on the attributes and challenges relevant to Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats.
Capsule CRM
10,000+ customers worldwide • Includes Transpond marketing platform
Transpond's email marketing and audience tools support proactive brand communication that builds customer loyalty and reduces churn-driven reputational fragility
Cost-effective CRM for growing teams — manage contacts, track deals and pipeline, build customer relationships, and streamline day-to-day work. Paired with Transpond, a dedicated marketing platform for email campaigns and audience management.
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HubSpot
Free forever plan • 288,700+ customers in 135+ countries
Deal intelligence, win/loss analytics, and pipeline data give sales teams the evidence to defend price with ROI proof rather than discounting reactively against commodity competition
All-in-one CRM and go-to-market platform used by 288,700+ businesses across 135+ countries. Connects marketing, sales, service, content, and operations in one system — free forever plan to start, paid tiers to scale.
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Other strategy analyses for Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
Also see: Jobs to be Done (JTBD) Framework