Briefing2 min read
How to write a brief for a powdered food product
A good brief saves weeks of sampling. Here is what to include when you ask a formulation partner to develop a protein blend, a complete food or any other powder.
You do not need a complete specification to start a powdered food project. But the clearer the brief, the fewer rounds of samples it takes to reach a formula you can produce. This is the checklist we use when we start a project with a new team.
1. What the product must do
Start with the job of the product, not the ingredient list. Is it a post-workout protein shake, a complete meal replacement, a daily fibre supplement, a base for a ready-to-drink product? The use case decides almost everything that follows.
2. Nutrition targets
Write down the numbers you already know: protein per serving, energy, fibre, vitamins and minerals. If you do not have numbers yet, describe the positioning ("high protein", "low sugar") and the benchmark products you are compared with.
3. Taste and texture
Describe how the product should taste and feel once prepared. Name reference products if you can. "Smooth, neutral, not chalky" is already useful. Also say what is non-negotiable: some teams accept a stronger flavour, others need something neutral.
4. Format and preparation
Tell us how the powder is used:
- Mixed with cold water, hot water, milk or a plant-based drink
- Shaken in a bottle or blended
- Added to another recipe
A powder that must dissolve in a shaker bottle has different requirements from one that is stirred into a hot drink.
5. Target cost
Give a realistic cost range per serving or per kilo. It keeps ingredient choices practical from the first sample, and avoids developing a formula that cannot be produced at your price point.
6. Claims and market
If you intend to make nutrition or health claims, say so early, and tell us which markets you will sell in. Claims affect which ingredients and levels are possible, and the rules depend on the market.
7. Timing and volume
When do you need the first samples, and roughly what volume do you expect to produce once the product is approved? You do not need a forecast. An order of magnitude is enough to guide the choices.
8. What you already have
A finished recipe, an existing product with a problem, or just an idea: all three are good starting points. Share what you have, including previous trials that did not work. Knowing what failed is as useful as knowing what you want.
Send the brief
If you have most of the points above, you are ready. Send them to us and we will tell you where we can help and what a sensible first step looks like.
