Why Prove Your Foods Concept First?
One of the first things I ask my clients is why they think their idea is not on the market now. There may be a reason. Great ideas happen. There are market disruptors. You have your excellent family recipe, or your buyer wants something that will surely be a hit at retail. The concept of food is where magic begins. But in reality, launching a new food product is a risk. Don't be part of the 95% of food product failures. Proving your concept is where you need to start before risking the move forward. How and why should you prove your concept first? Let's dive in:
4 reasons to prove your concept:
1. Market Validation
Testing your food concept allows you to validate market demand. Before you dive into full-scale production, it's crucial to ensure there is a real, sustainable market for your offering. Does your product have a home in a niche? Does it have a willing market? Early validation can prevent costly mistakes and steer you toward success.
2. Customer Feedback
Engaging with customers early on provides invaluable insights and helps you refine your formulations. Get as many people as you can to try your product. Testing doesn't have to cost much money. Get feedback. Making product changes during testing is much easier and cheaper than after a full launch.
3. Cost Management
Costing may be the most crucial of all these steps. Proving your concept on a smaller scale helps you understand your cost structure. You can experiment with different ingredient sources, pack sizes, and pricing strategies without the financial risk of a full-scale operation. Proving costing early on will help you develop a sustainable business model and set you up for your big fat success.
4. Operational Assessment
Can manufacturing produce the product you want, the way you want? Running a pilot version of your concept gives you practical insights into the nitty-gritty of your operations, whether it's your plant or copacker. You'll learn about food safety, workflow efficiencies, staff requirements, and potential bottlenecks or issues. That way, once you're ready, you'll have a smooth and efficient operation when you scale up.
Conclusion: Proving your concept first can help save you much risk down the line. It may even help you develop a better product. After proving your concept, you'll understand what works and doesn't, giving you a more sustainable and informed business model. Your idea is super duper; now get out there and prove it!
Not sure where to start? We develop food and drink products for every kind and size of food company. We've been there and done that. We can help you do your project the right way the first time.
If you're ready to turn your culinary vision into a retail reality, reach out to us at dave@food4ward.com. Let's bring your creations to life!
Thank you,
David Foerstner - Founder
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