Curating Tastes: DraughtLab Joins Rev

DraughtLab, founded in 2016 by Matt Coyner, Lindsay Barr, Chadwick McNab and Michael Penza, combines sensory expertise with software to help food and beverage businesses improve their product quality.  

Combining Lindsay’s background in food science, and Matt, Chadwick’s and Michael’s experience in computer science and software development, they’ve created tools to help consumer packaged goods companies. These include aroma training kits, flavor maps, and more recently, DraughtLab Learning, which has online sensory trainings. 

These tools give up-and-coming companies access to the quality control resources that larger manufacturers have. DraughtLab also has a blog and podcast where they talk about topics in the sensory and consumer science fields and speak to experts. 

What is the “origin story” behind your company? 

The new product failure rate is as high as 85% across consumer packaged goods, but much lower with top manufacturers. One of the differences is that they have sensory programs and taste panels at their disposal to better their odds before they go to market. 
Our tools make their jobs easier but also allow smaller companies the same advantages without having to hire an expert. If you only get one chance with a retailer or consumer, you need to make it count. 

What customer need is your company attempting to address?    

We recently released our new staff training platform, DraughtLab Learning. It keeps staff up-to-date with self-guided and interactive lessons focused on the business’s products and industry. 

Where do you envision your company a year from now? 

We would like to be a leading partner for the majority of food & beverage manufacturers around the world.