Most business leaders can learn a fair amount from their own consumer habits. The kind of preferences you have when spending money will often determine what you like to see in a service or product, and also how you prefer both of those to be delivered. For example, maybe you think that the local gym is worth the subscription, but also love the fact they sell day passes, because it works for your schedule and lets you save money, going less often thanks to your exercise bike at home. Food and beverage consulting companies often apply similar insights to understand consumer behavior and tailor offerings accordingly.
But if you hope to really understand your own consumer habits, it’s good to narrow that focus a little. For example, what makes you grab one item from the shelf, and not another? It seems obvious at first, packaging and price. But what prevents you from putting a product back, and not in your basket? It’s usually much more than that.
Now, this is always entirely down to the individual. If you don’t have to worry much about budget, you’re liable to go for more out-there options and not worry too much about cost or weight. But you’re not trying to sell to one person, you’re trying to sell to many people. Here’s how the best food and beverage consulting companies tend to look at it:
Obvious Value
Walk down any supermarket aisle and you’ll see the winners and losers pretty quickly. Products that make their value crystal clear don’t leave you standing there doing math in your head or wondering what you’re paying for, but the best items tell you upfront what you get for your money, be that more servings per container, better ingredients, or a price that makes sense compared to what’s sitting next to it on the shelf. All customers want to feel smart about their purchases, not like they’re taking a gamble on something that might disappoint them at home. Food and beverage consulting companies help brands craft this clarity, ensuring products communicate value and build trust at first glance.
Clear Unique Benefits
Generic products that could be anything don’t stick in people’s minds or make it into their shopping carts very often. What separates the memorable items from the forgettable ones is having something specific that nobody else offers in quite the same way, like a flavor combination that sounds interesting, packaging that makes storage easier, or an ingredient that solves a problem for a specific someone, like electrolyte replenishment for people doing the keto diet.
If you make that difference obvious enough that someone can explain to their friend why they chose your product over the dozen similar options sitting right there beside it, they’re likely to put it in their basket.
A Notable Purpose
Products that feel like they exist for a reason with a real vision should more easily connect with people on a different level than random items thrown together to fill shelf space. Food and beverage consulting companies know that the most successful products solve real problems or help to match desires that people have in their daily lives.
Some of the most common include saving time during busy weekdays (laundry products, for example), supporting local farmers, or providing healthier options for families. Without that hook, it’s easy to get ignored.
With this advice, you’re sure to make your product the one to grab for.
