Why Choose Food Research Lab's FRL as Your Food Product Development (FPD) Consultant and Partner?

There are several options in almost every product area in today’s market, and the difficulty is in coming up with unique items that stand out and connect with customers. Food Research Lab's Food Research Lab takes a holistic approach to creating food and beverage products. We define, demographically target, and build effective goods through a sequential process for category selection and comprehension. The client can visit the lab to learn the process. We offer unlimited rounds of revisions to ensure customer satisfaction. The final product prototype, along with the documentation process, including the video (through email), will be shipped to the client, and in case the client is not satisfied with the video, a food technology consultant will visit the place for the product demo at the client’s costs.

What are the different forms that you deliver the Food Product Formulations?

The food industry is witnessing a new form of consumption. Keeping that in mind, we can formulate the products in the form of ready-to-eat, ready-to-drink, ready-to-mix, ready-to-serve, and ready-to-cook food products. We use ingredients that offer an added value to the development and improve its indulgence and sustainability in terms of its functional ingredients, plant-based food dyes, and natural preservatives with a clean label.

What are the sectors Food Research Lab cover?

We cover a wide range of sectors such as soups, sauces and dips, chips, tortillas, dry beverage powder, plant-based products, masalas, puddings, instant mixes and many more.

How is sensory testing been carried out?

Our sensory examination leads to the precise formulation and recipe recommendations. We develop data-driven design models based on sensory research and customer insights. The fact-based design methodology used by Food Research Lab reduces risk and gives our clients market confidence while cutting development time in half. With our dedicated sensory lab facility, our team takes satisfaction in creating and optimizing successful products in the marketplace, generating a favourable return on investment, and developing brand advocates.

Food Research Lab was founded with over 25 years of expertise in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics, with a mission to bridge the gap between consumer demand and healthier product options. In 2011, we initially launched a Centre for Food, Mood, and Exercise, focusing on repacking healthier food products for consumers.

Challenges in Product Development:
Insights from Dr. Radhika Ganesan, CEO, Food Research Lab

Chennai, Latest News . Feb 10, 2025

Introduction: Pioneering Innovation in Food Product Development

Food Research Lab was founded with over 25 years of expertise in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics, with a mission to bridge the gap between consumer demand and healthier product options. In 2011, we initially launched a Centre for Food, Mood, and Exercise, focusing on repacking healthier food products for consumers. However, we soon realized that India lacked sufficient manufacturers offering clean-label, nutritious options. This led to the establishment of FRL, where we empower manufacturers to:

Despite our success, the journey of food product development is filled with challenges, particularly when it comes to innovation, sourcing, and manpower.

Key Challenges in the Product Development Process

1. Raw Material Sourcing & Procurement

One of the biggest hurdles in food R&D is securing the right raw materials. Unlike standard formulations, innovative product development often requires unique, high-quality ingredients, leading to:

Supplier Delays & MOQ Constraints – Many suppliers require a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of 25kg or more, even for trials. Convincing them to provide 1-2kg samples can be a time-consuming process.
International Sourcing Barriers – Many specialty ingredients must be imported from China, which involves regulatory approvals, logistics complexities, and transaction challenges between countries.
Quality Control (QC) Issues – Ensuring that the received raw materials meet required specifications often demands multiple interactions with suppliers, further delaying development timelines.

2. Time Delays & Project Execution

Timely project execution is crucial, yet several factors cause delays:

Sourcing inefficiencies – Due to the challenges in raw material procurement
Regulatory hurdles – Aligning with FSSAI, FDA, EFSA, and global compliance
Iterative product testing – Ensuring product stability, efficacy, and consumer acceptability

To streamline this, FRL has integrated an internal ERP system, ensuring every project is executed with clear milestones, tasks, and confidentiality measures.

3. Manpower & Skill Gaps in the Industry

The food industry requires highly specialized knowledge, yet:

Experienced professionals often have niche expertise, typically limited to one technology or industry segment.
Switching across multiple technologies and product categories requires strong logical and analytical skills, which many professionals lack.
Extensive training is needed to bridge the gap, but once trained, employees often develop different perspectives, making alignment challenging.

At FRL, we train our workforce from scratch and continuously upskill them, ensuring they stay ahead in food innovation, regulatory compliance, and formulation technology.

FRL’s Future Vision: Transforming the Industry with Technology

To overcome these challenges, FRL is launching a game-changing initiative:

2026: A Marketplace Platform for Raw Material Procurement & Regulatory Knowledge We are developing an AI-driven, subscription-based platform that will:

We are developing an AI-driven, subscription-based platform that will:

ERP-Based Project Management System

Conclusion: A Commitment to Excellence in Food Innovation

At FRL, our work is not just about product development—it’s about research, research, and more research. The food R&D industry demands passion, resilience, and deep expertise, which is why we are dedicated to:

With our scientific knowledge, market expertise, and customer-centric approach, FRL continues to lead the way in food and nutraceutical product development.