Food & Beverage Research

Consumer-driven Insights for Smarter Food and Beverage Innovation and Growth

From First Taste to Market Opportunity

Understand what consumers want, test what works, and uncover what’s next in food and beverage. EBI delivers research-driven insights to help companies make smarter product, marketing and business decisions.

Taste the Difference Real Consumer Insight Makes

In food and beverage, small differences can make a big impact. Taste, texture, preparation, packaging, price, convenience and perception all influence whether a product earns a place in the shopping cart.

EBI combines qualitative and quantitative research with our dedicated Consumer Test Kitchen to put products, concepts and ideas directly in front of the people who matter most: your consumers.

Our Consumer Test Kitchen is located in Birmingham, Alabama, but our research reach is nationwide. We can recruit and conduct food and beverage research with consumers anywhere in the U.S.

Whether you’re refining a recipe, comparing preparation methods, exploring a new concept or evaluating consumer reactions before a launch, we help turn feedback into actionable product decisions.

Research Built for What’s on the Menu

Test Products With Real Consumers

Move beyond assumptions and get direct feedback from the people you’re trying to reach.

Our consumer research can evaluate:

Taste and flavor
Texture and consistency
Appearance and presentation
Overall product appeal
Product preferences
Packaging and positioning
Purchase intent
Product comparisons
Consumer perceptions and expectations

Explore What’s Next in Food & Beverage

Consumer preferences are changing, and technology is changing what’s possible.

Research can help organizations understand emerging opportunities across areas such as:

Food and beverage innovation
AI and automation
Alternative proteins and ingredients
Functional foods and beverages
Health and wellness
Clean-label and ingredient preferences
Convenience and preparation
Sustainability and food waste
New packaging technologies
Emerging food production technologies
Changing consumer behaviors and expectations

Understand the Why Behind the Purchase

Numbers can tell you what consumers prefer. Qualitative research helps explain why.

Through focus groups and in-depth interviews, EBI researchers can explore the motivations, perceptions and behaviors behind food and beverage choices. Focus groups can be conducted virtually or in person, including in research facilities such as our Consumer Test Kitchen.

This deeper perspective can help uncover:

What consumers love, or don’t love, about a product
Why one product wins over another
Which attributes drive purchase decisions
How consumers perceive new or unfamiliar products
What changes could improve a product
How consumers use products in real life
What language and positioning resonate

From an emerging technology gaining attention to a product concept that’s still on the drawing board, research can help determine where the opportunity is, and what consumers actually think.

Explore Our Research Facilities

From Everyday Favorites to New Product Concepts

EBI has helped clients research a wide range of food and beverage products and consumer use cases, including:

Beverages
Carbonated soft drinks, coffee, tea and other beverage concepts

Prepared Foods
Hamburger and skillet-meal concepts, chicken products, sausage, lunch meat, bacon and other convenience foods

Bakery
Biscuits, cinnamon rolls and other baked products

Sauces & Condiments
BBQ sauce, steak sauce and other flavor-driven products

Frozen & Refrigerated
Ice cream, chicken fingers, fried fish, cheese and other frozen food products

Infant & Family Nutrition
Baby formula and family-focused food products

Preparation & Cooking
Consumer preferences around air-frying versus conventional oven preparation and other cooking methods

Whether you’re comparing recipes, evaluating preparation methods or testing a new product concept, the research can be tailored to the decisions your team needs to make.

How We Help Food & Beverage Brands Make Better Decisions

Define the Objective

Identify the product, consumer or market question you’re trying to answer and determine the right research approach.

Recruit the Right Consumers

Reach participants who match your target consumer profile, usage patterns and other key criteria.

Test in a Controlled Environment

Prepare and evaluate products consistently through our Consumer Test Kitchen and structured research sessions.

Explore Consumer Reactions

Combine product feedback with qualitative discussion or quantitative measurement to understand both preferences and the reasons behind them.

Analyze the Findings

Identify meaningful patterns, differences and decision drivers across products, concepts or consumer segments.

Turn Insight Into Action

Deliver clear findings and recommendations that can inform product development, positioning, marketing and go-to-market decisions.

Who We Work With

Our food and beverage research supports organizations across the product lifecycle, including:

Food and beverage manufacturers
Consumer packaged goods companies
Product development and R&D teams
Brand and marketing teams
Innovation teams
Ingredient and flavor companies
Food technology companies
Packaging companies
Restaurant and foodservice organizations
Retailers and private-label brands

Why Choose Endeavor Business Intelligence

Real Consumer Feedback – Get direct input from the consumers who matter most.
Research-Ready Test Kitchen – Test products in a controlled, professional environment.
Qualitative + Quantitative Expertise – Combine the numbers with the insights behind them.
End-to-End Research – From concept testing and product development to market trends and launch strategy.
Actionable Insights – Turn research findings into clear recommendations your team can use.

We don’t just deliver data, we provide clarity when it matters most.

What’s Next for Food & Beverage?

The food and beverage landscape is evolving quickly. New technologies, changing consumer expectations, shifting dietary preferences and growing demand for convenience are creating both challenges and opportunities.

The right research can help you determine which ideas are worth pursuing, which products have the strongest consumer appeal and where the next opportunity may be hiding.

Let’s explore what your consumers really think.

REQUEST A CONSULT

Frequently Asked Questions

What is food and beverage market research?

Food and beverage market research uses consumer feedback, product testing, surveys, focus groups and market analysis to help companies understand consumer preferences, identify opportunities and make better product and marketing decisions.

What types of food and beverage research does EBI offer?

Endeavor Business Intelligence offers food and beverage research including taste testing, product testing, concept testing, focus groups, consumer surveys, in-depth interviews, market research and trend research.

What is food product testing?

Food product testing is research that evaluates how consumers respond to a food or beverage product. Testing can measure attributes such as taste, flavor, texture, appearance, convenience, overall appeal and purchase intent.

Can EBI conduct consumer taste tests?

Yes. EBI can conduct consumer taste tests in its Consumer Test Kitchen to evaluate food and beverage products and compare consumer reactions to different recipes, flavors, formulations or product variations.

What types of food products can be tested?

A wide range of food and beverage products can be tested, including beverages, prepared foods, chicken products, sauces and condiments, ice cream, baked goods, biscuits, cinnamon rolls and other consumer packaged foods

Can EBI test different recipes or food product formulations?

Yes. EBI can compare multiple recipes, formulations, flavors or product variations to determine which options consumers prefer and identify the product attributes that drive preference.

Can you test different cooking or preparation methods?

Yes. Food and beverage research can evaluate how different preparation methods affect consumer preferences and the overall product experience, including comparisons such as air frying versus conventional oven preparation.

What is a food and beverage focus group?

A food and beverage focus group is a moderated discussion with consumers designed to explore their perceptions, preferences, behaviors and reactions to food or beverage products. Focus groups can provide the deeper context behind quantitative product testing results.

Can EBI conduct food product testing before a product launches?

Yes. Pre-launch food product testing can help companies evaluate consumer appeal, identify opportunities for improvement, compare product concepts and inform positioning before bringing a product to market.

How does food and beverage concept testing work?

Food and beverage concept testing presents consumers with a new product idea, description, packaging, positioning or other concept and measures their reactions. Research can help determine appeal, differentiation, purchase interest and opportunities for refinement.

Can food and beverage research identify emerging consumer trends?

Yes. EBI can research emerging food and beverage trends, including changing consumer preferences, convenience, health and wellness, ingredients, sustainability, food technology and other factors influencing the future of the industry.

What is food technology market research?

Food technology market research examines consumer and market responses to emerging technologies, processes, ingredients, preparation methods and innovations that could influence how food is produced, prepared, purchased or consumed.

How can food and beverage market research help my business?

Food and beverage market research can help companies make more informed decisions about product development, recipes and formulations, consumer positioning, marketing, innovation, product launches and future growth opportunities.

Why use a consumer test kitchen for food product research?

A consumer test kitchen provides a controlled environment for preparing and evaluating food and beverage products consistently while gathering direct feedback from qualified consumers. This can produce more reliable insights than relying solely on internal opinions or informal product feedback.