Food Innovation Fast and Efficient:
With the Lean Approach
Today’s fast-paced food and beverage industry requires more than just a great product—it requires speed and adaptability. Consumers expect products that reflect current trends.
Agilery transforms the innovation of Foods and Beverages
The lean approach enables brands to quickly test concepts in real market conditions, focus on small-scale prototyping, and reduce time-to-market through rapid iteration. This strategy aligns with modern consumer demands for flexible, adaptive brands that respond to their evolving preferences.
Flexibility
Iterative development to capitalise on peak trends
Reducing Risk
Consumer validation before scaling up
Faster Launch
Start generating revenue 6 months after concept
"Companies launching new products within six months of identifying an opportunity are twice as likely to succeed as those with extended timelines."
AGILE THROUGHOUT LAUNCH
We adapted the lean methodology, known from tech, to reshape food innovation. Our team of food and beverage experts helps brands develop, set up and commercialise faster than ever.
New Product Development
Conventional approach
Involves extensive research work and market analysis and development of a near-perfect product to be tested before launch.
Typical duration: 24 - 36 weeks
Lean approach
Creates a Minimum Marketable Product (MMP) using rapid prototyping and iterative sessions to be tested with consumers after launch.
Typical duration: 6 - 8 weeks
Finding Partners
Conventional approach
Reaching out to established manufacturers or suppliers with large MOQs and long negotiations. Designing custom packaging solutions.
Typical duration: 3 - 6 months
Lean approach
Using small-batch low MOQ co-mans and suppliers, via our partner network; and benefiting from the existing off-shelf packaging.
Typical duration: 1 - 3 months
Pilot Production
Conventional approach
Setting up large production using custom equipment and machinery. Refining the manufacturing processes before the launch.
Typical duration: 4 - 5 months
Lean approach
Setting up small-batch production at one of our vetted manufacturing partners, using existing machinery. Optimising production processes after the launch.
Typical duration: 1 - 2 months
Go-to-market / Commercialisation
Conventional approach
Planning highly structured marketing campaigns and partnering with large retail chains with complex distribution channels.
Typical duration: 8 - 16 weeks
Lean approach
Rolling out a limited product release in strategically selected small outlets and online shops (using our network) to test market response.
Typical duration: 4 - 6 weeks
Operations
Conventional approach
Large-scale production is often bound by rigid processes and established supply chains, which make it challenging to adapt quickly to changes.
Typical duration: continuous
Lean approach
Lean approach focuses on scalability, optimising for efficiency and product adaptations to reflect the latest consumer trends.
Typical duration: continuous
TOTAL DURATION - CONVENTIONAL:
Ca. 24 months
TOTAL DURATION - LEAN :
6 - 8 months
Here's also a compact version to download.
Tips to reduce time to market
Go for the standards
Stick to industry standards, existing machinery and off-shelf packaging
Packaging goes a long way
Decide on packaging format and shelf life early on
Use the language of the manufacturers
Provide all necessary info in the reachout to speed up your contractGo-to-Market with a prototype
Launch early to gain revenue and insights fast
Let go of perfection
Test market interest with a refined prototype.Frequently Asked Questions
Lean approach in food innovation emphasizes small-scale prototyping, rapid iterations, and fast feedback loops to reduce risks and costs and to meet consumer demands in real time.
By focusing on continuous testing and quick iterations, the lean approach cuts down development cycles to just a few weeks. This allows brands to adapt and launch faster than with traditional product development.
An MMP allows food brands to test concepts with minimal resources, gain consumer insights, and refine the product before a full-scale launch, reducing investment risks. Read more about the benefits of MMP in this article.
Yes, with the lean approach brands can validate their concept quickly with consumers and use their learnings after launch to refine their offering before scaling up.
Lean approach in food innovation emphasizes small-scale prototyping, rapid iterations, and fast feedback loops to reduce risks and costs and to meet consumer demands in real time.
By focusing on continuous testing and quick iterations, the lean approach cuts down development cycles to just a few weeks. This allows brands to adapt and launch faster than with traditional product development.
An MMP allows food brands to test concepts with minimal resources, gain consumer insights, and refine the product before a full-scale launch, reducing investment risks. Read more about the benefits of MMP in this article.
Yes, with the lean approach brands can validate their concept quickly with consumers and use their learnings after launch to refine their offering before scaling up.
CLIENTS THAT TOOK THE LEAP
Bataillard' Nonalcoholic aperitivos
Launching MLP to market
A wine corporation introduced alcohol-free aperitivos to tap into the growing trend of health-conscious drinking. We developed their prototype and strategically positioned it to bartenders, leading to rapid scaling after receiving positive market feedback. Within six months, this approach resulted in a successful nationwide launch, along with two industry awards.
Energy drink by Alpine Bliss
Consumer validation before launch
A beverage company that launched a minimally marketable version of its functional beverages in standard cans gain real-time consumer validation. Year later the MMP won Energy Drink Excellence award. Tha'ts a great validation, isn’t it?
Adaptogenic cookie dough by Forbidden Root
From kitchen recipe to pilot production
This organic, vegan cookie dough, enriched with adaptogens, was initially developed in founder's home kitchen for a brand that also has presence in the supplement category. In just 6 months we optimized the recipe for scalability and identified suitable supply and production partners, organised production trials, helping to successfully launch the first batch of MMPs.
Let's talk about your product.