Unilever Food Solutions App

Background

Research revealed that chefs and kitchen managers were primarily completing their wholesaler orders via smartphone.

To compete and enhance convenience for chefs ordering through Unilever Food Solutions (UFS), the company decided to launch a mobile app.

I was the lead UX designer for this project. For the final released product, I collaborated with an art director and UI designers to refine the app's look and feel. I was also involved in the developer handover phase, working closely with developers to ensure app screens met specifications and that features and user journeys functioned as designed.

Prove in 100 days

The project began with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) concept, which was designed, developed, and tested within 100 days. Insights gained from this MVP were then used to refine the product and shape the UFS app was available in the Android and iOS app stores.

The app's structure combined native screens, like the home screen, with web-based content for recipe and product detail pages pulled from existing UFS web pages.

I was deeply involved in every aspect—from defining app screens and user flows to creating final visuals, testing interactive prototypes with users, and collaborating closely with developers during the build phase. The app was developed for both iOS and Android platforms and piloted in two distinct markets.

This MVP testing learnings allowed the business to identify the key features and functions required for the app's success with UFS customers. The insights gathered from this project were instrumental in optimising, shaping, and refining the final product now available in markets.

Sitemap

A sitemap was created and optimized based on insights from the MVP. It provided a basic understanding of the app's overall structure and a rough estimate of how many screens would need to be designed and developed.

Wireframes

Wireframes were designed to shape the page structure, providing insight into element placement, user flow, and visual guidance for conversations with key stakeholders throughout the project.

User testing

An interactive prototype was created using InVision, and test participants were given task-based scenarios to complete. The prototype underwent testing in several markets, and the resulting insights were used to optimize the final designs before handover to the developers.

Final designs

Developer Handover

At the time, Zeplin was used to upload app screen designs. This allowed developers to view specifications such as dimensions and colors, and download relevant assets needed to build each screen.

App store visuals

Rollout and impact

Successful test in dutch market, with roll out to Germany and Soith Africa as a fast follow.
Positive feedback from customers around ease of ordering and integrated loyalty programme.
From the success of this app, I then worked with the UK market team to launch a separate app - My Suppliers - with unique branding and features including a delivery checklist.