Before Hiring a Food Product Developer (Part 1): Know What You Want
- MJ Kinney
- Apr 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 28
This guide is the first installment in our two-part series. To read part 2, click here.
Before you hire a food product developer, know what you want
The journey from concept to commercially viable food product involves numerous challenges — some so significant they'll require substantial adaptation if you hope to cross the finish line. While I once believed securing the right contract manufacturer was the determining factor in a product's success, experience has taught me otherwise. The biggest barrier to market entry is actually an under-prepared, poorly-defined concept.
Ironically, this foundational information is precisely what you need before engaging a food product developer. Yet so many projects stumble before they even begin due to this gap.
To set you on the right path, I've created four "layers" of questioning that will help you develop increasingly deeper clarity about your product vision. When completed, these responses collectively form a "product development brief" — essential guardrails acknowledged before any professional development work begins. This brief helps food product developers determine if your project aligns with their capabilities and shapes their approach into a tailored project proposal. Remember, food product development is fundamentally an exercise in creative problem-solving, so approaches and subsequent proposals will naturally vary between developers.
Layer 1: Basic parameters
These fundamental parameters should be clearly defined before development begins. While adjustments are possible, they are discouraged because changes can result in duplicated efforts, extended timelines, and increased costs.
Application type: What type of product is this? Identify at least its category — if sold in a grocery store, where would a customer find it?
Application format: What level of preparation is required at its point of sale? Elaborate on this by identifying how the consumer would interact with the product following purchase.
Flavors: What flavors are ideal for an initial launch? While this will vary depending on a variety of factors, generally three to five separate flavors are recommended for entry into most marketplaces.
Location of sale: Will this be available through DTC e-commerce, food service, grocery retail, or another channel? Identify specific examples in terms of store names, and if in grocery retail, which aisle or section consumers would find it.
Content of key nutrients: Are there specific nutrient targets for your product (e.g., grams of fat, carbohydrates, or protein per serving)?
Layer 2: Prospective parameters
"Layer 2" parameters build upon your basic parameters, and may evolve as the project progresses based on insights gained along the way.
Serving size: How large is a serving? (preferably expressed in both grams and ounces)
Servings per container: Within a unit of sale, how many servings will be available?
Storage conditions: How will this product be stored after manufacturing, during distribution/transport, and at its point of sale?
Shelf-life: For what period of time should the product remain safe and optimal for consumption?
Packaging: What type of packaging do you envision? Can you provide examples from existing products in the market?
Layer 3: Market communications
Though appearing last here, how you envision communicating your product to buyers and customers often informs the fundamental parameters a part of Layer 1. This is generally the section that inspires the most questioning from the food product developer, and is a great opportunity to learn about regulatory considerations.
What specific claims or statements will appear on product packaging, marketing materials (e.g., sell sheets, shelf-talkers), and your website?
What are the top product features you'll highlight in your advertising?
What symbols (classifications or certifications) do you want displayed on your product's packaging?
Who are your top 2-5 competitors? Per competitor, can you identify in what ways you envision your product being different?
Layer 4: Aligning product goals and boundaries
Based on all the above considerations – and other relevant details perhaps not yet mentioned – organize your parameters into the following framework:
Must Haves | Nice to Haves | Definitely Nots |
These are your strict, non-negotiable requirements. You would choose not to launch if these cannot be met. | Your wish list items that come with challenges that may not be solvable or worth solving. You accept that some of these might not be achievable. | Like "Must Haves" but focused on what is absolutely not allowed under any circumstances. |
Example: Vegetarian | Vegan | Animal-derived ingredients other than dairy |
This example communicates that a vegetarian product is expected, but it would be nice if a vegan product could be achieved. The client has further clarified they will not accept any animal-derived ingredients except dairy products.
Summary
Finding the right food product developer for your vision can feel overwhelming. Many entrepreneurs face more questions than answers when starting this crucial search. Before you hire a food product developer, getting crystal clear about your requirements is essential for success.
Food product development is a specialized field where approaches vary significantly between professionals. Without proper preparation, you might find yourself relying solely on a developer's perspective—often leading to compromises you hadn't anticipated.
This guide helps you define your product vision in terms that resonate with food scientists and developers. It encourages establishing your "Plan A" ideal specifications while creating a framework to identify the right development partner for your unique product. When you're ready to hire a food product developer, this preparation will make the process significantly more effective than figuring it out as you go.
While regulatory limitations will inevitably shape your final product, starting with a comprehensive vision provides invaluable guidance to potential developers. This preparation not only helps them understand your goals but reveals critical questions to ask during interviews, creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue. Through these conversations, a good developer will educate you on relevant compliance issues such as FDA serving size requirements or nutrient level claims while exploring possibilities that might enhance your original concept.
This process not only clarifies your needs but builds the foundation for a trusting partnership with your food product developer — one based on shared understanding and aligned expectations.
Ready to turn your food product idea into reality?
FareScience's Discovery Questionnaire is the first step in our development process. We carefully review all submissions to ensure we can provide meaningful value to your project. When you submit a thoroughly completed questionnaire, our team will reach out to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation (via video or phone) to discuss your specific development needs.
About the Author
MJ Kinney is the Founder and Lead Product Developer of FareScience. Over the past decade, she has specialized in plant-based product development with a focus on commercial scalability. Her years of experience span the B2B, B2C, and nonprofit sectors throughout the food industry, and her work continuously seeks synergies between ingredient innovations and applications in scalable, novel products.
