Sensory ScienceAnalytics
Industry: Food and Beverage (Flavorings)
Our Client: A global leader in flavors, fragrances, and cosmetic ingredients.
The Challenge: Crafting a Premium Chocolate Flavor
Our client set out to develop a premium chocolate flavor for bakery items, milk-based drinks, and nutritional supplements. The challenge: identify a chocolate flavor profile that would resonate with modern consumers and fit seamlessly into various product categories.
Our Research Approach: A Four-Phase Study
Phase 1: Exploratory Retail Audit
The research began with a deep dive into the existing market landscape. By analyzing online grocery platforms and ice cream brand websites, we created a comprehensive library of chocolate products, identifying common flavor descriptions and trends.
Phase 2: In-depth Consumer Exploration
We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 articulate consumers (SEC A1) in Bangalore and Chennai—regular purchasers of biscuits, milk-based drinks, or ice cream—to understand their preferred chocolate flavor profiles and sensory expectations.
Phase 3: Market Central Location Test (CLT)
Quantitative testing through a blind taste test across three major cities: Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. A total of 270 participants (90 per city) were divided into three panels representing ice cream, bakery, and milk-based drink categories. Each panel evaluated four chocolate flavor samples using a sequential monadic approach, followed by a forced comparison.
Phase 4: Validation CLT
A second blind product test with 165 participants in Chennai confirmed which chocolate flavor would perform best in real-world applications.
The Impact: Data-Driven Flavor Innovation
By progressing from secondary research to qualitative exploration and rigorous quantitative testing, our approach provided a structured roadmap for flavor development. The insights enabled our client to select a chocolate flavor that aligns with evolving consumer tastes.
Delivering market-winning insights through research-driven innovation.