So recently a leading baby food company from Southeast Asia knocked on our door with a critical mission. 

They needed to benchmark their product against five competitors and wanted us to suggest changes that would make it the top choice for consumers.

If we didn’t nail this, they risked losing market share.

Here’s what needed to be done:

• Identify Key Changes: We needed to figure out what modifications would make consumers fall in love with their product.
• Hands-On Testing: Rolling up our sleeves, my team procured the products, and got down to testing. This was all about drawing real, actionable insights to help them shine.

However There were two big challenges:

1. There was no pre-published data on how specific aspects of infant formula (like ingredients, packaging color, and logos) affect consumer choices in the country.
2. These products have specific requirements due to the developing immune systems of infants.

Here’s how we tackled it:

To overcome these challenges, we adopted a flexible and innovative approach.

#1: Initially, we planned to analyze social media reviews but found this insufficient due to the unknown sample size and impact severity. After discussing with the client, we broadened our scope to include insights from the general food industry in the country and the global infant formula market to understand consumer behavior comprehensively.

#2: We conducted a taste survey within our team and deconstructed the packaging to analyze materials, strength, dimensions, and thickness. This hands-on approach helped us identify the flavor profile that appealed most to our customers and determine the packaging that best fit the product requirements and resonated with our target segment.

#3: Due to infants’ developing immune systems, there are many things involved in infant food products. Therefore, we reached out to parents (including the ones on our team!) to understand how they choose infant formula products, the challenges they face, and the journey of nutrition of infants as they grow up.

Outcome

By combining insights from three different verticals – social media analysis, hands-on testing, and direct consumer feedback – we delivered solid recommendations to our client. One crucial lesson we learned from this project is the importance of flexibility and the willingness to change methodologies to achieve better results.

If you need to understand flavor preferences, packaging requirements, or other aspects that can capture consumer interest, my team can help.

They specializes in providing detailed, actionable insights tailored to your specific needs. 

Interested in solving similar challenges? Connect with us or book a quick 15-minute call: info.greyb.com/meetings/oorja