Snack · Factory scale-up
Factory process and oxidation control
The oil-rich coating is the shelf-life weak point.
Factory SOP Status: Formula delivered
Founders · Lebanon · UAE
Launch a food product without a factory
You can launch a food product without owning a factory: develop and test the formula first, then produce it with a manufacturer who follows a written factory process. Firas Bader, The Food Engineer, develops formulas with founders and brands in Lebanon and the UAE and supports trials with your manufacturer, so your formula stays yours.
What to lock before you talk to a manufacturer
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A tested formula
A final formula that has been tested, not a kitchen recipe.
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A factory-grade spec
Ingredients specified the way a factory buys them.
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A written process
Every step written so the manufacturer's team can run it.
Read the article -
Shelf-life results
Shelf-life tests run on product from the line, not only from the kitchen.
Proof
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Beverage · Iced coffee
Triple V Iced Coffee & Mocha
Rich flavour within a tight cost target.
Cost-optimised Status: Launched
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Sports nutrition · Bar
Chewy layered protein bar
Keep the bar soft and chewy for its whole shelf life.
20 g protein in 70 g Status: Formula delivered
Who this is for
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Founders with an idea, company or not yet.
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Home and kitchen recipes that need to become a product you can sell.
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Brands adding a new product without building a production line.
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Restaurants that want their signature product on a shelf.
What I can do
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New Product Development
From an idea to a final, tested formula.
Proof: Pawpots 4 concepts → 2 SKUs
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Scale-Up & Factory Transfer
Move your product from the kitchen to the factory.
Proof: ProPop Factory SOP
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Shelf Life & Stability
Keep your product fresh, crunchy and stable for longer.
Proof: Al Kazzi Shelf life 6 → 12 months
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Reverse Engineering
Match the taste, texture and look of a product on the market.
Proof: Frisbee's Pizza Flagship product
The Food Engineer
Meet Firas
I'm Firas Bader, a food engineer and R&D formulator. I develop products for startups and established manufacturers across beverages, dairy, snacks, confectionery, pet food and functional foods.
More about me
Watch: My name isn’t on the pack. My work is inside.
Watch on Instagram (opens in a new tab)The video has English subtitles burned into the picture; there is no separate captions track.
Process
How a project runs
Every project starts with a conversation. Not every project needs all six steps.
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Discovery & brief
We talk about your product, your goal and where you are now, then agree the brief.
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Assessment
I look at what the product needs and what is possible, before any formulation work.
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Formulation & prototypes
I build the formula and make samples, then refine them with you in rounds.
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Testing & shelf life
Samples are checked against the brief, including how they hold over time.
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Scale-up with your manufacturer
I write the factory process and support trials with your manufacturer.
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Market readiness
You receive the final formula and a clear handover, ready for your launch steps.
Questions
Can I launch a food product without a factory?
Yes. I develop the formula with you, then write the factory process and support trials with your manufacturer. You don't need a factory of your own.
I don't have a company yet. Can you help?
Yes. Founders with an idea are welcome, company or not. Tell me where you are, and we start from there.
Who makes the product?
A manufacturer you choose produces it from the written process; I support the trials with them.
What should I prepare?
A short description of your idea or product, what you want to change, and where you plan to sell it. Photos, samples or a label help if you have them. You don't need a formula.
Will my recipe stay mine?
Your formula is never published; many projects on this site are shown without brand names.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes. You can ask for an NDA before you share any details about your product.
Have a product challenge?
A new idea, a formula that isn't working, or a shelf-life problem. Let's talk about it.