Food Product Development & Innovation

Expert recipe development, prototyping, and food innovation strategies for New Zealand food brands.

"Innovation is a journey, not a destination. We provide the map and the technical horsepower to get you there successfully." — Chris Bryant

Navigate Food specialises in the design and development of innovative food products, offering comprehensive support to bring your product to market efficiently. We employ smart strategies to expedite the process and enhance your chances of success. Our services encompass end-to-end project management, including defining timelines, scoping, feasibility analysis, concept/prototype development, market validation, and commercialisation. We also assist in determining shelf-life and best-before dates while proactively addressing potential distribution issues.

Trust us for:

• Strategy, Innovations, and Trends

• Sensory Evaluation, Market Testing, Shelf-Life Testing and Transport Trials

• Ingredient and packaging sourcing, review and approval

• Scaling up from kitchen benchtop to full factory production

• Quality Control and Finished Goods Specifications

• Designing and implementing bespoke Stage Gate Product Development

Do you have a "world-first" food idea that you just know people will love? At Navigate Food, we live for the challenge of bringing those ideas to life. We are experts in the "science of innovation," using smart strategies to move your product through the development cycle as efficiently as possible. We don't just help you cook; we help you commercialize. This means we look at everything from your ingredient costs to how your product will hold up during distribution. We are your technical partners, helping you define timelines and conduct the feasibility studies that prove your idea is commercially viable.

One of our secret weapons is our bespoke Stage Gate Product Development process. This methodology allows us to break the development journey into clear steps, with "gates" where we evaluate progress before moving on. This reduces your risk and ensures that your resources are being used in the best possible way. We help you develop your prototypes, conduct market validation, and nail down those all-important shelf-life dates. Whether you are innovating a new vegan sauce or a high-protein snack, we bring a scientific and logical approach to every recipe. We are here to ensure that when you launch, your product isn't just a great idea—it’s a commercial triumph.

Got a brilliant food concept that needs to be prototyped? Contact Chris today and let's start your innovation journey!