SO YOU WANT TO LAUNCH A NEW DRINK?
WE’LL HELP YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN
Unless you accidentally clicked on the wrong search link, you’re here because you’re looking for help to launch a new beverage.
If you keep scrolling you’ll find out what’s involved in launching a new drink from recipe development right through to sales and distribution, and you’ll get a feel for who we are and what it’s like to work with us.
But you might not need to read all of that.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you’ll need a partner that’s a good fit for you - one that will take the time to understand you and your values, and can help you create a drink that not only tastes great but also stands out in the market.
The best way to know if that’s us is to call us and just tell us your story.
Don't settle for a generic drink and forgettable brand. Tell us about what brought you here today, what sort of drink you want to launch, and what sort of help you’re looking for from a partner like us. We’ll do the rest.
Pick up the phone and say hello.
(Or if you’re not ready to chat, keep reading!)
WHO WE ARE
If you're looking for expert guidance in launching or growing your drinks brand, you’ve come to the right place.
We have deep business, marketing and sales expertise across the FMCG sector and we provide a comprehensive range of brand consultancy and product development services to clients in the food and beverage industry.
SOME OF THE BRANDS WE’VE WORKED WITH
HOW WE HELP
From recipe development to co-packing, product naming to packaging design, brand platform development, and even sales and distribution, we have got you covered.
Our comprehensive end-to-end service includes everything you need to bring your new drink to market. And our team of experienced professionals will work closely with you to create a product that not only tastes great but has a distinctive brand identity that resonates with your target audience.
Maybe you’re making a better tasting or healthier version of a drink that already exists, or you’re launching something completely new and unfamiliar that is going to disrupt the market by creating a new category.
Whatever your reasons, you’ve arrived at this stage in your journey where you have an idea for what type of beverage you want to develop and it’s about to become a reality.
But where do you start…?
How do you develop a legally compliant recipe that you can sell safely?
How do you know if there’s a big enough market for your product?
What brand name can you use and how do you trademark it?
How can you be sure that it will stand out from similar products once it’s on the shelf?
How much will it cost to produce it, and how much can you sell it for?
How do you even get it onto a shelf in the first place?
And what about a website and selling online?
Let us answer all your questions and work with you every step of the way to help you turn your idea into a reality.
We’ll make it happen.
WHAT WE DO
RECIPE DEVELOPMENT
The trend for low-sugar, low / no alcohol and clean label standards presents technical challenges in recipe development. Ingredients can be hard to source, or even illegal to use, making it necessary to adapt your recipe to meet the flavour profile in different ways BUT our recipe developers comply fully with UK Regulations and produce safe and cost-effective solutions. We understand how to manage these challenges and support you through the whole product development process.
DRINK PRODUCTION
We manage all types and scales of production runs including soft, alcoholic, carbonated or still drinks. Your recipe often determines the co-packer that is willing (or able) to manufacture your product and the size of your production run can also limit the choices, or the availability of line time. We’ll figure all this out early on in your project to ensure your cans are filled, labelled and packed perfectly. We’ll help you find the right partners through our network of trusted and connected suppliers.
PRODUCT NAMING
Your product needs a name, ideally one that resonates with your target customer, sets an expectation of the flavour experience, and delivers real impact (stands out) and recall (easy to remember). Our naming process involves market research, creative wordplay and trademark pre-screening through USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) and the Intellectual Property Office in the UK. This results in a shortlist of potential names that objectively reflect your values and support your product's positioning in the market.
PACKAGING DESIGN
75% of beverage purchase decisions are made by consumers as they stand in the aisle, so your product packaging is where your brand story meets your target customer. It has to be visually distinctive so that the product isn’t lost in the noise of a competitive category. It has to have clear messaging that sets an expectation for the flavour experience. And it has to have recall to make it easily identifiable for repeat purchase. From labels, sleeves and on-can printing to trays and multipacks, we’ll make it work for you.
BRAND PLATFORMS
A brand platform is a strategic framework that encompasses your brand's mission, vision, values, personality, and positioning, and guides everything from the way your brand looks and sounds to the products you make and the stories you tell. The goal is to clearly define your brand identity to ensure it resonates with your target audience and sets your brand apart from your competitors. The brand platform typically involves a mix of research, strategy, design, and implementation.
SALES & DISTRIBUTION
While your product is being developed, branded and produced, we’ll work with you to create a distribution plan so that you can focus your energy on getting your target consumer to buy your product. We’ll build you an ecommerce enabled website so you can sell direct to customers, but most people have dreams of growing their brand through retail and we can help with that too. We’ll help you to structure your wholesaler and retailer pricing, then send samples to our distributor database, and help you to set up meetings with potential buyers.
HOW WE WORK
Our number one priority is to help you achieve your growth objectives, and we have a proven track record of delivering results for our clients.
Success in the food and beverage industry requires a data-driven approach. We make extensive use of market research and analysis to inform our strategy development and decision-making.
Telling your brand's story in an already crowded marketplace can be a challenge. We’ll help you find you unique identity, voice and space ensuring that your brand differentiates you from your competitors, resonates with your target market and stands out on the shelf.
Whether you need help with recipe development, packaging design, sales, or distribution, we can provide end-to-end support for all aspects of your product launch. This way, you can focus on your core competencies while we handle the rest.
We believe that expert guidance shouldn't come at a high price, and we offer flexible, affordable and transparent pricing for all of our services, with no hidden fees or surprises - to help you achieve success without breaking the bank.
We don't just provide recommendations.
We roll our sleeves up and work with you every step of the way to make your vision a reality.
WE GET YOU
It takes strength and tenacity to step out of your comfort zone and commit to creating something new as an entrepreneur. That’s something we know all about. Like you, we are building a business to rival the established players and challenge the status quo.
We understand the entrepreneur's perspective.
Our four core beliefs demonstrate why working with nerv is a strategic investment in the success of your business.
We focus on outcomes, not deliverables. This means we are as interested in how we help you build revenue and win market share as we are in designing your new logo, packaging and website. When we say MAKE IT HAPPEN, that’s what we mean.
We’re entrepreneurial at heart. We’ve not only worked with people like you in your situation before, but we’ve also walked the entrepreneur path ourselves. We bring that knowledge, experience and empathy to the table alongside the ability to see opportunities where others do not.
Creativity underpins our business. It's not a word to us - it’s the way we are wired. And it's our commercial creativity that will drive your success.
We strive to be authentic and transparent - this means being clear about pricing, timelines, and deliverables. We’re honest and upfront about what we can deliver, and we are genuinely invested in the success of all our clients. We know that in most cases, it’s your own money that’s being invested in the project and we respect that.
WHAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAY ABOUT US
HIVELY
“Nerv really helped to bring our brand to life. They took time to understand us as Founders so that they could ensure our personalities, values and objectives were represented as they brought our business to life. They researched our product category and our competitors and helped us define our market and our positioning. We have felt involved in every step of the process and we’re absolutely delighted with the results.”
Caris Smith
Co-founder, Hively
SKINNIES
“Working with nerv is a collaborative, rewarding and incredibly supportive experience. Their industry knowledge is outstanding, but more importantly for me, they take the time to make sure I understand all the decisions that I need to make, and then help me follow through on those. We have an excellent working relationship and the value of this is reflected in the creative and strategic work that they produce for me.“
Anna Shabalina
Founder, Skinnies Cocktails
OVER TO YOU
If you’re not ready to give us a call just yet, you can still get started.
We just need five minutes of your time to tell us a little more about your project. We have a very simple form below that captures some of the detail we need to know - you’ve come this far so don’t give up now!
We’ll qualify what you can tell us with some market insights and data and then we’ll arrange a follow-up call or meeting.
Don’t worry - there’s no obligation or fee for that meeting.
We just want to have a conversation and let you tell us your story in your own words. Then we’ll give you a more qualified opinion on what’s going to be involved and explain how we can help you realise your ambitions.