Product Development
Product Development Services
The Product Development team at CSU Spur can help you turn your idea into a prototype product. While we can accommodate clients at a variety of scales, most of our clients are new, emerging food entrepreneurs. Each of our product development clients is unique, and so we will listen carefully to your needs and goals.
Fill out the Contact form; select Product Development from the drop down menu.
Guide for New Businesses
We recommend all new businesses review this reference:
Partnering With You To Develop Products
We can take on the work of developing your product formula ourselves, only coming to you when we have a prototype sample for you to taste. Or, we can work alongside you in the kitchen, offering suggestions and advice as you take the lead. Talk to us about product development options for new and emerging entrepreneurs.
Food Development Process
We can help counsel you through the steps you should take to start selling a new food or beverage product. Here is an example of our typical process:
Reach Out to the FIC
Connect with us through our web portal to describe your need and initiate an NDA if desired.
Exploratory Consultation
If it seems like we can help you, we’ll set up a consultation to discuss your project goals in more detail.
Proposal
We will send you a project proposal that includes estimated costs, estimated timeline, and projected deliverables for the project.
Approval and Contract
You’ll look over the proposal and let us know of any modifications you want to discuss. We are happy to re-evaluate the scope of work to accommodate your needs. When you have approved the proposal, we will execute a contract and officially begin the project.
Kickoff Meeting
In this meeting, your team will meet with our whole team to get into the “nitty gritty” of your project goals and expectations. We’ll discuss questions like what types of ingredients you want to use or avoid, what the nutritional requirements for your product are, what shelf-life you are aiming for, and more.
Background, Research, and Sourcing
During this stage of a few months, we will spend time researching the ingredients and equipment that might work best for your project. We will also find ingredients we can work with. These may be from the grocery store, or they may be from suppliers we are connected to, depending on the scale and requirements of the project.
Benchtop Formulation
We will develop a scalable formula for your product that meets standards for safety and is ready for the next stage of scale-up.
Prototype Tasting
Throughout the course of your project, we will send you protypes (typically 3) for tasting and feedback to bring the product closest to your goals.
Project End
Along with your scalable formula, we’ll also create nutritional facts panels for your product as well as workflow diagrams indicating how to reliably recreate it.
Product Formulation or Re-Formulation
- Tell us your vision for your product and we can work with you to develop a formula or refine an existing formula to accomplish your goals
- Price determined by consultation
On-site Co-development
- Work alongside one of our food scientists in the kitchen to improve your product, streamline your process, or strategize next steps in your journey
- pH, aw, Brix, moisture, salinity, and/or TDS testing included as needed during co-development session
- Production of Nutrition Facts Panel and scalable formula
Consulting
- Can be virtual or on-site
- For non-confidential questions or advice, view our Request Services page.