Blog Posts
Gummy and Fruit Snack Development: The Manufacturing and Formulation Realities Founders Should Know
Gummies and fruit snacks may look simple, but developing a product that actually works in manufacturing is far more complex than most founders expect. From choosing between pectin and gelatin systems to managing sugar structure, drying conditions, and shelf life stability, small formulation decisions can dramatically affect how a gummy performs at scale. This article explores the manufacturing and formulation realities behind gummy and fruit snack product development—and the challenges brands often discover too late.
Protein Bar Development: What Founders Should Know Before Launching a Snack or Protein Bar
Protein and snack bars may look simple, but they are one of the most technically challenging products to develop in CPG. From protein systems and texture stability to ingredient cost drivers and manufacturing constraints, founders often underestimate the complexity of bringing a bar to market. Here’s what brands should understand before launching a protein or snack bar.
Fiber Innovations Shaping the Future of Food
Fiber innovation is accelerating as brands respond to the widening fiber intake gap, rising GLP-1 use, and growing demand for clean-label functionality. From resistant starch and upcycled citrus fiber to precision prebiotics and high-protein hybrids, the next generation of fiber ingredients is reshaping formulation, processing, and commercialization strategy.
The Disappearing Middle in CPG
The CPG market is no longer a bell curve—it’s a barbell. Premium brands with clear differentiation and private label value options are thriving. Mid-priced, undifferentiated brands? They’re disappearing. This post unpacks the structural forces driving this shift and lays out what founders must do to survive—and grow—in a polarized food and beverage landscape.
6 CPG Packaging Problems That Are Killing Your Momentum
For new and scaling CPG brands, packaging decisions can quietly lock up cash, delay launches, inflate fulfillment costs, and block retail expansion—long before demand becomes the problem.
This guide breaks down the real packaging challenges founders face, why they happen, and how to design packaging that scales.
New Flavors and Flavor Combination Trends to Watch in 2026
Discover the flavor trends shaping CPG innovation in 2026—from pickle-spiked desserts to AI-generated mashups. Learn how consumer psychology, sensory science, and data-driven insights are transforming product development.