MSAT Consulting

The food and beverage industry is vibrant and ever-evolving, with consumers increasingly seeking nutrient-dense products with unique flavor profiles. Startups and established companies alike require the expertise that can support them in developing and scaling their products to meet market demands while adhering to strict safety and regulatory standards.

Msat Consulting, a food and beverage consultancy, is a versatile partner in this dynamic landscape, guiding clients through the complexities of food and beverage development, manufacturing at scale, and troubleshooting. Clientele range from mom-and-pop shops to industry giants. It takes ideas from inception to fruition, ensuring each and every product receives the utmost attention to detail and quality.
“We develop a diverse range of products, wearing many hats throughout the process while prioritizing client success and satisfaction,” says Mark Satterfield, owner of Msat Consulting.

Transforming Visions into Delectable Market Realities

Msat Consulting presents a fusion of culinary ingenuity and scientific acumen, recognizing that a new product’s success hinges on factors like taste, nutrition, packaging, and cost-effectiveness. Led by Satterfield, a visionary food scientist with over three decades of culinary expertise, its staff creates impactful, tailor-made solutions with hands-on involvement, ensuring product excellence and market readiness in every project.

Its expertise is highly sought after by a diverse clientele, including entrepreneurs with cherished family recipes entering the culinary market and established organizations seeking to enhance existing offerings.

When initiating a new project, Msat grasps the client’s vision, goals, and distinct requirements through adept communication and a comprehensive project questionnaire. This survey evaluates three fundamental aspects of food product development—nutrition, packaging, and cost.

Armed with this information, it lays a foundation for the most effective product strategy. Prototypes are meticulously crafted, with each detail refined to perfection, including nutrition labeling, flavor profiling, and overall product presentation.

Msat Consulting constantly looks to achieve the next best product. A specific produce variety’s flavor profile and attributes can exhibit variations in strength and quality based on factors like climatic conditions and soil composition. Through visiting local farms in communities across the country and hands-on interactions with produce suppliers, it ensures produce meets expectations.

Its expertise is evident in Msat’s journey of developing new green juices for Starbucks’ Evolution Fresh line. It set specific goals for each juice, carefully considering factors like sugar content, nutrition, customer needs, and seasonal produce.

During the creation process, the Msat team experimented with different ingredient combinations, conducting taste tests and small, strategic adjustments to refine the blend to perfection.

Addressing flavor gaps innovatively, it incorporated additions like mango and mint, harmonizing distinct flavors. Frequent collaborations with produce suppliers guaranteed impeccable ingredient quality and attributes, culminating in the highest quality juice in each bottle.

Innovating Platters for a Diverse Palate

In a dynamic landscape where consumer preferences are constantly shifting, the role of seasoned consultants like Msat becomes pivotal. It takes every opportunity to stay on top of the food and beverage trends and flavors available to anticipate client needs and find inspiration for its next product.

As consumers seek products that align with their dietary preferences, the food and beverage industry is observing a surge in demand for items such as yogurt, doughnuts, pudding, meal replacement drinks, and granola. An adept team of professionals, well-versed in the nuances of food
safety maintenance, production scaling, and process flow design, guarantees each product journey, from concept to manufacturing, is a seamless one.

Closely collaborating with clients, it devises optimal packaging strategies, implements efficient thermal and high-pressure processing methodologies, and establishes robust hazard analysis critical control point management systems.

Priority is placed on adhering to safety and quality standards. Support for meeting regulations like SQF Food Safety Code, USDA Organic, and the burgeoning demand for vegan and gluten-free options renders Msat’s guidance indispensable. It actively participates in the initial manufacturing runs of new products, paving the way for a successful market launch while aiding clients in navigating the intricacies of compliance.

“We oversee every project until product launch, as the success of our clients is the success of Msat,” says Satterfield.

When clients encounter challenges with existing product lines, Msat steps in with specialized troubleshooting services. Adopting a systematic approach, the team collaborates closely with them to address issues like product separation and reduced shelf life.

One of its recurring clients approached it when a product unexpectedly started thickening due to an unknown ingredient. Comprehensive studies and appropriate testing were conducted to identify the root cause and address the issue. Through diligent problem-solving and exploration of alternative ingredients, it restored the product to its original state without any undesirable consistency issues.

At Msat Consulting, preserving client confidentiality remains paramount across all projects. Intellectual property (IP) is safeguarded through proprietary methods, preventing sensitive information from being shared with external parties.

For instance, if a client possesses a specific powder blend, Msat may collaborate with a specialized company for the ingredient blending process. This approach ensures that only essential details are disclosed to the co-packer involved in final production, safeguarding the client’s recipe.

It also maintains a policy of exclusively using its proprietary IP in product development.

Partnering for Market-Ready, Nutritious Creations

Satterfield’s contributions to the food and beverage industry extend beyond product development. He was previously instrumental in securing a U.S. patent for using microorganisms in the biological preservation of beverages and other foods.

Msat’s base of operations is a fully equipped lab that houses a juicery with presses and blending equipment. It is well-staffed with a team of skilled technicians who handle the bench work. Satterfield acts as the guiding force and directs their efforts, infusing each project with his wealth of experience and industry knowledge.

Adjusting processes, ensuring seamless scaling for client products, and approving each formula, Satterfield’s hands-on approach results in a level of precision and attention to detail that sets Msat Consulting apart.

Strategically prioritizing its core strengths in product development and improvement, it emphasizes client success and satisfaction. It leaves marketing aspects to be addressed separately, allowing a dedicated focus on crafting high-quality products. This ensures a thorough service that leaves a lasting impact on clients.

An ever-growing track record of success has put Msat Consulting on the path of expansion. In response to a dynamic market and varied client needs, it is augmenting its confectionery and bakery capabilities. Doubling the size of its facility and investing in new baking and roasting equipment, this strategic evolution aims to diversify offerings and cater to a broader range of clientele seeking confectionery delights.

Msat Consulting partners with clients to transform dreams into tangible, market-ready products. Through its robust menu of services and track record of high-quality results, it leaves an indelible mark on the food and beverage industry, one creation at a time.