From kitchen concept to shelf-ready product—how FEAST helps brands navigate the complexities of manufacturing at scale.
At FEAST food works, we believe that every great food product starts with research and development done right! Whether you’re launching your first SKU or scaling up a beloved recipe, the R&D phase is where your product vision begins to take shape. Here’s how to approach R&D with your co-packer to ensure a smoother, faster, and more successful journey to market.
1. Why R&D Is the Foundation of Every Great Food Product
Before production or packaging comes to life, R&D is where your product is defined. From refining flavor and texture to testing shelf stability, a solid R&D process ensures the finished product aligns with your brand’s goals and customer expectations.
At FEAST, our R&D team collaborates closely with food brands to translate big ideas into production-ready recipes that work at scale—without compromising taste or quality.
2. Start with Recipe Precision
When submitting your product for R&D, clear documentation is key. Here’s what sets a successful submission apart:
- Ingredient Specifications
Be specific—name the supplier, ingredient type, size, or even the labeling category. If you have spec sheets, send them. If not, include detailed sourcing info. - Weight-Based Measurements
Always provide recipes using weight (grams, ounces, pounds), not volume. This avoids costly conversion errors and ensures consistency from test batch to full production. - Uniformity Matters
Avoid mixing weight and volume in the same recipe. Keeping measurements consistent streamlines formulation and speeds up the development timeline.
3. Don’t Skimp on the Details
Precise, step-by-step instructions are a game-changer in R&D. Be sure to include:
- Cooking times and temperatures
- The order of ingredient additions
- Visual and sensory cues at each step
If available, also include benchmarks like:
- Brix levels
- pH
- Water activity
- Viscosity
- Water loss percentage
These analytical metrics help us dial in your product faster, getting you closer to a finished sample on the first try.
4. Think Beyond the Recipe: Packaging Counts Too
Packaging plays a huge role in both product identity and manufacturing compatibility. When possible, share specifications for jars, lids, pouches, or cartons—dimensions, volume, material, etc. This helps ensure the product and packaging work seamlessly together from the start.
5. What If You Don’t Have Everything?
That’s where FEAST’s expertise shines. Whether you’re working off a beloved family recipe or just a concept sketched on a napkin, our R&D team can help fill in the gaps. With deep culinary and food science experience, we’re ready to collaborate on whatever stage of development you’re in.
6. Frequently Asked Questions About R&D at FEAST
Why does FEAST use weight instead of volume measurements?
Weight is more precise and avoids inconsistencies that can occur due to ingredient density, which is critical in scaling up your product accurately.
How can I help speed up the product development process?
Bring all the details you can—ingredient specs, measurements, cooking instructions. The more info we have, the faster we can go.
What if I only have a product idea, not a recipe?
No problem. Our team can help develop your product from the ground up, starting with R&D.
Work With FEAST
From concept to commercialization, we partner with emerging and established brands to bring food products to life. Want to learn more about our co-packing and R&D services? Get in touch with us here.
