Course: Product Development
Description
Product development is the process of concept generation, strategy, product and marketing plan creation, evaluation and commercialization of a new product. FBU has included such topics as refining a product concept, using kitchen incubators, delving into the actual co-manufacturing process, and responding to customer feedback.
Lessons
Idea Generation
- What should come first, the decision to start a new company or the idea behind a new product?
- What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned regarding product development for new food and beverage products?
- Where can I find some great team members to get my product off the ground?
- Is there ever a time to scrap a new product and not go to market?
- Where can I look for new and innovative ingredients?
- Is new product development and innovation the same thing?
- What factors do you consider when evaluating a new concept?
- Are there key characteristics that make a concept or idea more marketable?
- How can I pilot my idea before investing a sizable amount of cash?
- Is there a way I can determine if there is a market for my concept?
Product Development House
- I already have my own recipe, can you help me scale up my product with new ingredients?
- What do ingredient supply lines look like? What happens if my product follows the fabled hockey stick and requires a ton of production in a short period of time?
- Where will my product be manufactured? At the development company or is it contracted out?
- How can I find out information on potential product development companies?
- How closely can a product formulator replicate and scale a family recipe?
- How long can it take to finalize my flavor?
- What do I need to know when leaving one manufacturer for another?
- What can a product development company do for me?
- When working on the formulation of my product, what’s the difference between using a Flavor House, Co-Packer or Product Development Company?
- What should I look for in a product development company?
- What kind of key decisions should I make before coming to a product developer?
- Will a product developer help me make decisions regarding the creation of my new product?
- Is a product development company category focused?
- I have developed my own recipe, how can I scale it?
- Will a product developer help me source ingredients?
- Does my product development company need to be local?
- What type of initial investment will I need when working with a product development company?
- What type of role does a co-packer play when it comes to a product developer?
- Why is working with a development company a good decision?
- How important is finding a development company that has the same ethics?
- Do I have to use all aspects of the same development company if I work with them to develop my product? For example if they offer multiple areas of expertise and services?
- How much will it cost me to work with a development company?
- What is a turnkey solution?
- Where will my product be manufactured? At the development company or is it contracted out?
- How can I find out information on potential product development companies?
- How closely can a product formulator replicate and scale a family recipe?
- How long can it take to finalize my flavor?
- What do I need to know when leaving one manufacturer for another?
Ingredients and Sourcing
- Do all ingredients come from the same place?
- If I want Organic or NoN-GMO ingredients in my product, how does that impact my product?
- Is it possible to source locally?
- Are there any ingredients that I should avoid?
- I already have my own recipe, can you help me scale up my product with new ingredients?
- What do ingredient supply lines look like? What happens if my product follows the fabled hockey stick and requires a ton of production in a short period of time?
- What’s an extract? What’s the difference between liquid and powder extracts?
- I want my product to be Organic or NON-GMO, how does the use of extracts impact my certification process?
- How and when are extract certified?
Process: How the Product Gets Made
- How difficult is it to go from a product that may contain artificial ingredients or too much sugar, and turning it into something more healthful?
- What are typical ingredients that usually need a substitute when producing at a larger, co-packing scale?
- How can the manufacturing process affect the taste, texture, smell, or appearance of my food product and can you list some examples?
- What has more of an impact on my product, a new process of manufacturing or new source ingredients?
Process: Testing and Scaling Up
- What are the next steps to product launch after formulation and labeling is complete?
- During the scale up process, what steps are taken to assure product quality?
- What are typical testing needs that can be completed on my product?
- What are some typical costs associated with testing?
- Will a product developer help me create a product in house rather than outsourcing the production?
Kitchen Incubator
- What is a kitchen incubator?
- What kinds of services does a kitchen incubator offer?
- How big of a space is a typical kitchen incubator?
- What is included when I rent/lease the space?
- Are there types of foods or beverages that I am allowed or not allowed to make?
- How are kitchen incubators different from other "incubator" type programs that I’ve read about?
- What are some of the advantages of joining an incubator?
- How long does the average tenant stick around, and what happens while they’re there -- do they graduate to a bigger space, go out of business, typically, how large are the tenants?
- What are the limitations of this kind of incubator?
- How did you get into this line of work?
- How did you source food in the Winter?
- What are the criteria you consider when choosing which startups can become members in the kitchen incubator?
- What do potential members need to prepare prior to meeting with a representative from the kitchen incubator?
- What should an entrepreneur ask himself or herself prior to determining if working at a kitchen incubator space is a good fit?
- Do you accept applicants year round?
- How long does the review process take for a typical application?
- Can you walk me through the application process? (generally – will get to more of the technical stuff later)
- What is the difference between renting a shared kitchen space and leasing my own separate commercial kitchen?
- How much does it cost to rent the kitchen space? Is there a minimum amount of time I to rent it out for?
- What is included in my rented/leased space? What are additional costs I would need to consider?
- What are the different types of permits, licenses, certifications that I need prior to working in commercial kitchen?
- How long does it take to attain such permits, licenses, and certifications? Is there assistance from the kitchen incubator during this process?
- What types of equipment are available at the kitchen incubator?
- What are the times I am allowed to work in the kitchen space?
- Can you describe what a typical shared kitchen space is comprised of?
- What are my responsibilities as an entrepreneur working in the shared kitchen space?
- What if I have special equipment I want to bring in and use?
- Are there ingredients that I am not allowed to use in the space?
- What are some tips you would recommend for successfully working in a kitchen incubator space?
- What are some of the trainings I can get at an incubation kitchen?
- What type of assistance is available to entrepreneurs when working in a kitchen incubator?
- Are there networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs, local shops, etc.?
- Will there be assistance to entrepreneurs for getting their product to the market place?
- Do you host pop-up events?
- What are some of the startups you are currently working with?
Specialty Beverages
Customer Feedback and Adjustments
- Feedback on my initial product launch has varied. I want to keep the concept the same however I want to tweak certain elements. How do I go about this without necessarily starting from scratch?
- When is the right time to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch?
Staying on Top of the Trends
Certifying Your Home Kitchen
Food Safety