Have you tried the barbeque Payday bar? How about Frito-Lay\u2019s biscuits and gravy potato chips? Or the \u201cVeltini,\u201d a martini made with Velveeta-infused vodka?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These off-the-wall combinations made headlines for their creators. But how do you know whether a consumer packaged goods (CPG) product will sell? Your innovation team might love it, but will consumers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can find out by running consumer sensory tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consumer sensory testing is a research approach that asks consumers to rate and describe products based on how they look, feel, taste, or smell. Qualitative sensory testing enables CPG companies to assess a product\u2019s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While consumer sensory testing is frequently applied in the food and beverage context, it\u2019s also useful for other CPG products, as you may have noticed in the examples above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But aren\u2019t research teams capable of evaluating whether a product smells or looks good? Why do companies need to involve consumers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many CPG companies\u2014especially those that produce foods and beverages\u2014already use expert sensory testing in their quality assurance and quality control processes. Expert sensory research may be used to evaluate the shelf life of a packaged food or assess whether a product has an off flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consumer sensory research has a different purpose. It\u2019s not about measuring products against established standards; it\u2019s about discovering what resonates with average consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consumer sensory testing is useful in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, consumer sensory testing is easy to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get the most out of your consumer sensory testing with these three helpful tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you want to find out how consumers experience your products, turn to QualSights. We enable personal connections with consumers\u2014wherever and whenever they shop for and use products\u2014through our mobile qualitative insights platform<\/a>. We back that up with accurate and precise quantitative data from our connected product consumption intelligence coasters<\/a>, which passively measure product usage around the clock<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n