Beverage Idea
We’ll kick off the process with an initial brief. This conference allows our cross-functional team to pick your brain and determine the direction for formulation. Want certified organic ingredients? Need the formula to be below 100 calories? Let us know, and we’ll execute.
Ingredient Sourcing
Our team of food scientists and chemists will source ingredients from respected ingredient vendors across the U.S, keeping in mind your formula guardrails. We’ll make recommendations on trending ingredients and which flavor profiles appeal to your target consumers. Whether its Organic, Kosher, Gluten-Free, or Non-GMO, we can source it!
Now that the ingredients are sourced, let us do our magic! We’ll make recommendations for ingredient levels and how to achieve the functionality and flavor profile that you’re looking for. From there, you have 3 rounds of formulation to create the ideal product.
What inspires you? Our design team will lead a discussion on packaging and brand identity to determine the direction for design. We’ll cover packaging options, graphic styles, font treatments, and the target consumer.
Production
Our first order of business is selecting the right bottle. To find the ideal packaging options for your beverage, we take into consideration your formula and the processing required to give it a shelf life. When you’ve selected a bottle we can show you the label types and caps that are compatible.
Frequently
Asked Questions
What are the stages of Drink Labs’ beverage development process?
Our beverage development process follows five key stages: Ideation, Ingredient Sourcing, Formulation, Design, and Production. We begin by understanding your beverage concept and business goals, then source quality ingredients, develop a custom formulation, create your branding and packaging, and finally coordinate commercial production through trusted manufacturing partners. Every stage is managed by our experienced in-house team, providing a seamless path from concept to market-ready product.
How long does the beverage development process take?
Most beverage development projects are completed within 60 to 90 days, although the timeline depends on factors such as formulation complexity, ingredient availability, product testing, packaging requirements, and revisions. During your initial consultation, we’ll review your project and provide a customized timeline based on your specific beverage concept. Contact us to discuss your project in detail.
Can you source specialty or functional ingredients?
Yes. We work with trusted ingredient suppliers across the United States and can source a wide variety of specialty ingredients, including Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, Gluten-Free, plant-based, functional, and clean-label ingredients. We carefully select ingredients that align with your product goals, regulatory requirements, and target market.
How does Drink Labs choose packaging and bottle options?
Packaging is selected based on your beverage formula, processing requirements, branding objectives, and distribution plans. We help determine the ideal bottle or can, cap, label materials, and packaging components to maximize product quality, shelf life, consumer appeal, and manufacturing efficiency.
How does Drink Labs find the right manufacturer for production?
We leverage our network of trusted beverage manufacturers and co-packers to identify the best production partner for your project. Our recommendations are based on factors such as your beverage formula, packaging format, production volume, geographic location, and budget. We also assist with evaluating minimum order quantities (MOQs), production timelines, and manufacturing costs to help you make informed decisions.
Can you help scale a homemade recipe for commercial production?
Absolutely. If you already have a homemade recipe, prototype, or existing formulation, our beverage scientists can optimize it for commercial manufacturing. We improve consistency, flavor, shelf stability, ingredient compatibility, and production scalability while maintaining the original character and vision of your product.