{"id":17156,"date":"2024-05-01T07:38:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T11:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dryatlas.com\/staging\/?p=17156"},"modified":"2024-05-01T15:14:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T19:14:19","slug":"how-to-work-with-a-beverage-formulator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dryatlas.com\/staging\/articles\/how-to-work-with-a-beverage-formulator\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Work with a Beverage Formulator"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Matthias Laudico and Charlotte Mizrahi, Co-Founders of Ley Line Labs<\/b><\/p>\n

When developing a beverage, there are countless moving pieces to consider. Most formulation advisory should be tailored to your brand. That said, there are a few red and green flags that translate across the board\u2014plus tips for nailing your product development brief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Red and Green Flags\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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Manufacturers\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Red flags: there\u2019s no clear documentation about intellectual property ownership. This could mean a host of troublesome things. For one, they may be using a white labeled formula, which means it\u2019s the same formula used for multiple brands. If they don\u2019t share your formulation with you, you can\u2019t make adjustments in the future or communicate effectively with ingredient suppliers. This will cause major trouble!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Green flags: transparency. If the manufacturer supplies all audit documents, offers a walk-through of the production floor, and clarifies brand ownership of the formula, these are all good signs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Product developers (formulators, designers, and brand strategists)<\/b><\/p>\n

Red flags: inconsistent and unclear communication. Communication is key with any healthy relationship, and that includes the relationships you have with your service providers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Green flags: mutual respect and passion. These are the folks helping to execute on your vision. It\u2019s critical that they hear you and your goals for your brand. On the flip side, you\u2019ve hired professionals for a reason\u2014to help guide you through a process that requires a variety of skills and experience. All parties should be passionate about the project and respect each other\u2019s viewpoints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What makes a great brief<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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The biggest difficulty for new brands? Making sure their formulator understands their vision. Here are some key brief components so that, no matter who you work with, you can get the right product made.<\/span><\/p>\n

The product development process is all about understanding your Who, Where, When, Why, and What:<\/span><\/p>\n