Beverage Innovation Starts Here
The Bench is a hub for innovation, where product development thrives through collaboration and experimentation with novel flavors and concepts.
Let's Get Started
Our support gets you to the finish line.
Our dedicated team of product experts start with your beverage idea and take you through the entire product development process including commercialization and launch.
Leading Beverage Experts
Custom Flavor Development
Tap into our full-service Flavor Team for flavor creation, duplication, and modification. Every flavor we develop is specifically crafted for the beverage it goes into, meeting our clients’ distinct taste requirements. Our Flavorists will make sure that your product tastes exactly the way you want it to.
Beverage Formulation
Our R&D team has been doing product development for over 50 years across a wide variety of food and beverage categories. We formulate your product according to your vision, this includes the desired product sensory attributes, such as taste, appearance, macronutrient profile, ingredient statement, and preferred claims. We have the expertise to meet your needs, whether it’s incorporating specialized functional ingredients, transforming your homemade recipe into a market-ready formula, or achieving the specific health benefits you desire. You can count on us to handle it all.
Regulatory & Quality
Our Regulatory and Quality Departments support your product development at every stage. From ingredient procurement to co-packer selection, our team is ready to support. We will ensure your product meets FDA regulations in addition to helping guide you through other certifications like organic, kosher, and non-GMO. In today’s market, where product claims and functional ingredients are vital differentiators, ensuring compliance is more critical than ever.
Pilot Plant
Utilize our fully automated state-of-the-art pilot plant to make samples to show investors, potential buyers and distributors. Pilot runs allow you the complete confidence in your product’s performance. Our pilot plant has various processing and filling capabilities including HTST indirect processing and UHT indirect and direct processing. Available packaging includes aseptic BIBs and clean fill sterile bottles. We can run batch sizes as low as 5 gallons depending on the process required. Check out more on on pilot plant capabilities here.
Sensory
Take advantage of our dedicated 4-booth sensory room which allows us to conduct formal blind and controlled testing for flavor optimization and new product development. We have the expertise, experience, and in-house capabilities to take your vision from concept to completion by offering a range of testing services to meet your specific needs.
Marketing
Work with our in-house Market Analysts and Flavorists to develop beverages that represent the latest industry trends. We offer logo and packaging design support and can develop customized trend reports based on cross-referenced data from the most important sources: primary research, market intelligence reports, industry publications, and social media influencers.
Want to get started?
Here's how this works
Fill out our project intake form
Scope of Work
We get to work
Step 1
We want to understand your vision for your dream beverage. This is crucial as it helps us determine the resources necessary to carry out the project. You can fill out our standard project brief form or email us a summary of what you want to develop. Or, if you have some ideas but you don’t know exactly what you want, our team can help you with product ideation and design based on the latest market trends and our technical expertise.
Step 2
Our cross-functional team of Flavorists, Beverage Scientists and commercialization experts will review your project and design a project plan tailor made for your custom beverage. We can also help you with additional services like co-packer selection, logo design and packaging.
Step 3
Now you sit back and we get started. Throughout the development phase, our team will formulate your product and send you samples to taste and provide us feedback. You are also invited to come onsite to our Innovation Center and taste alongside our team to expedite your time to market.
Fill out our project intake form
Step 1
We want to understand your vision for your dream beverage. This is crucial as it helps us determine the resources necessary to carry out the project. You can fill out our standard project brief form or email us a summary of what you want to develop. Or, if you have some ideas but you don’t know exactly what you want, our team can help you with product ideation and design based on the latest market trends and our technical expertise.
Scope of Work
Step 2
Our cross-functional team of Flavorists, Beverage Scientists and commercialization experts will review your project and design a project plan tailor made for your custom beverage. We can also help you with additional services like co-packer selection, logo design and packaging.
We get to work
Step 3
Now you sit back and we get started. Throughout the development phase, our team will formulate your product and send you samples to taste and provide us feedback. You are also invited to come onsite to our Innovation Center and taste alongside our team to expedite your time to market.
From Concept to Consumer in Three Phases
Phase One
Ideation and Product Design
We cater to a diverse range of clients – some arrive with a clear vision in mind, while others look to harness our team’s expertise to craft their product. For those with a precise vision, our streamlined process allows them to dive straight into development, bypassing the product design phase. However, for brand owners seeking a collaborative journey, our team steps in to help shape every nuance of their product. Whether it’s determining the ideal ingredients or tapping into the most effective sweeteners based on current market trends, we offer a unique opportunity to design your product on paper before delving into the formulation and development stages. No matter where you stand, our approach seamlessly adapts to your needs, ensuring a tailored and innovative product that aligns with your vision.
Phase Two
Development and Formulation
When it comes to creating your perfect beverage, our product specialists roll up their sleeves to craft something truly delicious. We embark on a journey of formulation, creating several versions for you to taste and give feedback on. Your input is our guiding star as we tweak and perfect the taste and nutritional balance. This phase involves a bit of detective work—sourcing the finest ingredients and ironing out any quirks that might affect the taste due to ingredient interactions or other factors. We’re on the lookout for stability issues and ensuring that all the functional ingredients play nicely together. Our mission doesn’t end until you’re absolutely thrilled with your beverage. We’re here to make sure every sip is exactly what you envisioned.
Phase Three
Commercialization
Now that you’ve fallen for your fantastic new beverage, it’s time to bring it to the world! This phase is all about taking your winning formula and getting it ready for prime time. We’ll be right there beside you, collaborating directly with your co-packer to fine-tune your formula for production. Our focus is making sure your beverage is not only delicious but also a breeze to manufacture. This involves shelf-life testing and tweaking anything needed to ensure the product performs as planned. We even dive into the nitty-gritty of supply chain optimization to streamline the process. We can tailor our services based on the unique needs of the client.
We have expertise in every beverage category you can think of!
A Range of Experience
Coffees
Flavored Teas
Sodas
Flavored Waters
Carbonated Drinks
Still Beverages
Fresh & Cold Pressed Juices
Sports Drinks
Protein Drinks
Electrolyte Drinks
Energy Drinks
Powdered Beverages
Beverage Enhancers
Workout Drinks
Functional Drinks
CBD Drinks
Kombucha
Shots
Alcohol Beverages
Hard Seltzer
Cocktails
New to beverage? No problem!
Whether you’re an established company or just starting out, we can help you! We know the beverage industry and we have all the intelligence to get you where you need to be. We are truly your long-term partner in the success of your beverage and our service model is uniquely designed for long-term growth. Contact our team to learn more.
Let our beverage specialists and flavor creation team help you design your next great product.
Innovation Highlights
Coffees & Tea
We have over 25 years of experience creating high-quality coffee and tea extracts, flavors, and aromas. Our technological advancements enable unique batch processing, resulting in a superior flavor and sensory profile in any given application.
Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters
Exciting flavors, formats, and function are fueling innovation within carbonation. Collaborate closely with our dedicated team of beverage application scientists to create a diverse range of beverage products tailored to your specifications.
Juice Drinks
A focus on low-sugar, non-sweet flavors, and healthier options will dominate the fruit and vegetable juice landscape in the years ahead. We are dedicated to monitoring emerging juice trends to provide our customers innovative opportunities in this dynamic marketplace.
Functional Beverages
From masking off-notes in protein-fortified beverages to formulating natural, free-from claims in sports drinks, we provide a diverse range of customized, application-specific ingredients crafted to optimize performance and taste in your product.
Flavored Alcoholic Beverages & Hard Seltzers
From cocktails to mocktails, we keep up with the latest trends that are captivating consumer attention. With over 1,000 TTB formulations and counting, our team has the specialized knowledge required to craft your next great beverage.
Dairy & Non-Dairy Beverages
Our comprehensive understanding of the beverage landscape allows us to cover the full spectrum of dairy, non-dairy, and plant-based beverages. Our taste solutions deliver authentic profiles, premium ingredients, and decadent flavors that consumers will love.
