Flavoring Tips to Enhance your Dietary Supplement Line
This isn't the first time that we've taken to the blog to discuss the art of dietary supplement flavoring, and it certainly won't be the last! In an increasingly competitive market, flavoring can be one of the most effective ways for a brand owner to help their supplement (particularly their powders) stand apart from the pack.
NutraScience Lab's Top Dietary Supplement Flavoring Tip
No matter what type of supplement you're looking to manufacturing or flavor, timing can be everything.
No matter which powder manufacturer you choose to work with, there's no denying that the dietary supplement manufacturing process, when done well, takes time. Not an excessive amount, but anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks is perfectly normal (especially for first-time production runs).
Keeping that in mind, if you (or a supplement brand owner that you know) are looking to bring your next dietary supplement product to market by a certain date, then you have to plan accordingly.
Typically, we'll recommend that brand owners start the manufacturing process at least 3-4 months before their ideal "launch date." From what we've seen, this buffer is usually more than enough to help get your supplement to market when it's supposed to.
Why is this buffer so important?
Great question! With your (potentially) new-found supplement manufacturing knowledge, you gain the ability to plan and launch a dietary supplement that makes the most of any given season.
How to Flavor Powder Supplements
Of the four seasons, fall, winter, and summer tend to have the strongest flavor associations. Mention "fall flavors" and the mind immediately jumps to thoughts of pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apples, and other autumn goodies. The same can be said for "winter flavors" (hot cocoa, marshmallows, peppermint, and other favorites that'll warm you up) and "summer flavors" (fruity treats that are light, sweet, and refreshing).
Playing to these seasonal favorites is a great way to maximize the reach of your next dietary supplement product. There's also an argument to be made for choosing to do a limited run of a seasonal flavor (see: Laws of Supply, Demand, and Scarcity).
Other Dietary Supplement Flavoring Factors to Consider
Along with getting the timing just right, there are some key factors that even the most experienced to brand owners and nutraceutical entrepreneurs have to consider before launching a new supplement.
When crafting a new supplement, consider questions like:
- Who is this supplement for? What do we know about their tastes?
- Are there any flavors that I (or my competitors) have found success with in the past? Unsuccessful?
- Are there any flavoring/ingredient trends that are worth paying attention to?
- When it launches, will the flavor match the season? (Example: Do I really want to launch this peppermint hot cocoa flavor in July?)
Putting in the effort and research before launching a new dietary supplement product can save you precious time and money. Partnering with supplement manufacturer with a certified food scientist on staff is ideal. This person can leverage his/her industry experience and knowledge of the latest trends to develop innovative supplement flavors that can help your product stand out in the market and accelerate sales.
One More Takeaway
Winter would be the ideal time to start the manufacturing process for a supplement product that you want to launch in the spring or summer.