The Food Lab

25 November - Stop Picking "Safe" Flavours That Don't Work


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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to download The Flavour Blueprint⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a free guide based on the process I use with my clients to fix underperforming food and drink products.


Chocolate. Strawberry. Vanilla. Caramel. These are the flavours everyone says they want, right? So you add them to your food or drink product, launch it, and... nobody buys it twice. Sales drop. Reviews complain about the taste. And you're left wondering what went wrong.


I've been there, actually, I nearly lost my mind trying to fix vanilla and strawberry for a client because they were the wrong flavours to begin with. And honestly, this is one of the biggest mistakes I see food and drink brands make.


If you're developing plant-based or functional food or drink products that taste earthy, bitter, or fishy, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about "safe" flavours.


Because picking popular flavours doesn't guarantee success, especially when they clash with your product base.


Your flavouring needs to fit and complement your product base, not fight against it. That's how you build repeat customers, not one-time buyers.


In this episode, we'll cover:

  • Why "safe" popular flavours often clash with functional and plant-based products
  • The funnel strategy: lots of one-time buyers vs. fewer loyal repeat customers
  • Why taste is the #1 reason for repeat purchase (not trends or marketing)
  • How to choose a flavour profile that actually works with your product
  • A real example of why vanilla and strawberry were my biggest nightmare


Stop guessing. Start choosing flavours that actually fit your product.

If you found this episode helpful, leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on whatever platform you're listening to this podcast. Your review genuinely helps this podcast grow and makes it more visible to other food and drink brands who are struggling with the same challenges you might be facing. 🙏


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👋 I'm Manon Galizzi, a flavour expert and food scientist with 10+ years in the industry, including training at a flavour house and working with iconic brands like McVitie's, Yeo Valley, Burger King, and Jacob's. I founded EPICSI to help UK food and drink brands nail their flavour strategy and choose the best flavour profile, especially for challenging formulations.If your sales are declining due to taste complaints, I diagnose what's wrong and rebuild your flavour profile. If you're launching functional or plant-based products struggling with bitter, fishy, or earthy notes from marine collagen, plant proteins, or adaptogens, I help you choose flavours that actually mask or complement those notes.

I specialise in clean-label, additives-free, plant-based, and functional food product development.


Unlike generic flavour houses or co-manufacturers, I provide custom flavour language training, run extensive trials (up to 200 per project), and guide you through every tasting and decision.


Research shows flavour is the #1 driver of repeat purchase. Get it right, customers return. Get it wrong, they don't.


Each episode shares practical strategies for food and drink product development, flavour selection, and fixing products that aren't performing.


👋 Connect with me directly on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, YouTube or via my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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The Food LabBy EPICSI