Kinetrix Natural Performance Gel Development

Client: Kinetrix, Brightwater, Tasman — New Zealand

Project Completion: June 2025

https://kinetrixperformance.com/

Project Overview

Kinetrix engaged Navigate Food to support the development of a natural, clean-label performance nutrition gel designed for endurance athletes and active consumers.

As an emerging New Zealand sports nutrition brand, Kinetrix sought to differentiate its range through naturally derived energy systems and functional ingredients — avoiding the use of artificial additives and highly processed carbohydrate bulking agents commonly found in conventional sports gels.

Navigate Food was engaged to translate this positioning into a commercially viable gel platform suitable for scale-up and market launch.

Project Objectives

• Develop a honey-based energy gel suitable for endurance use

• Maintain a clean-label ingredient declaration

• Exclude artificial colours, flavours, and bulking agents (e.g. maltodextrin)

• Deliver functional performance nutrition benefits

• Create a multi-flavour platform for range expansion

• Ensure manufacturability and stability of the gel system

Navigate Food’s Role

Navigate Food led the technical product development programme from concept refinement through to validated formulation.

Key activities included:

Formulation Design

• Development of a natural carbohydrate energy base

• Structuring of gel viscosity and mouthfeel

• Integration of functional actives to support performance positioning

  
  

Ingredient Strategy

• Identification and approval of clean-label ingredient systems

• Alignment of flavour components to natural positioning

  
  

Sensory Performance Optimisation

• Balancing sweetness, acidity, and functional ingredient impact

• Texture optimisation for ease of consumption during activity

  
  

Prototype Development

• Bench formulation trials

• Iterative sample refinement

• Stability and handling considerations

Flavour Range Developed

Five flavour varieties were formulated:

• Blackcurrant

• Raspberry Orange

• Lemon & Lime

• Apple & Cinnamon

Nutritional Positioning

The gel platform was designed to deliver:

• Rapidly available carbohydrate energy

• Functional stimulation support

• Electrolyte contribution

  
  

All aligned to endurance fuelling requirements while maintaining natural ingredient positioning.

Outcome

• Clean-label honey energy gel platform successfully developed

• Multi-flavour range validated through prototype trials

• Functional nutrition targets achieved

• Scalable formulation suitable for commercial manufacture

  
  

Client Impact

This project enabled Kinetrix to enter the performance nutrition category with a differentiated product platform built on natural ingredients rather than conventional maltodextrin-heavy systems.

By combining formulation science, functional nutrition design, and clean-label strategy, Navigate Food supported the brand to bring a market-ready endurance fuel solution to life.