The production of high-quality, safe foods is becoming more and more important. Therefore, mathematical models to predict product properties could greatly benefit the food industry, especially, if it would be possible to optimise the process of operation in relation to the desired product quality and safety. In general, three types of predictive models are necessary for optimisation and improvement of food production chains: (i) process models that describe the production chain in terms of model reactors; (ii) kinetic models that predict the transformation of food components and contaminants in food production chains; (iii) predictive models to estimate the costs related to process operation. Both the first and the last type of models were not yet available for the production of liquid food. With the support of the Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fishery new predictive models have been developed. In this paper, the three types of models are presented and a general procedure for improvement of food production chains is discussed. The procedure developed for improvement of food production chains integrates the quality, safety and economic aspects. Cases demonstrate that the procedure enhances the development of new food products.