Bolt
Case Study

Finding the next product opportunity before it becomes obvious

Validate high-stakes packaging decisions before production

FMCG case study

Challenge

  • A FMCG category leader needed to validate a series of high-stakes packaging decisions for its new design alternatives, covering on-pack brand presence, shelf standout, and a potential product rename, before committing to production.

What We Did

  • Large-scale shelf and pack test across 1,200 German shoppers, using a monadic design to evaluate multiple pack alternatives simultaneously.
  • Linked shelf planogram exposure to pack evaluation to simulate real purchase conditions.
  • AI decoded all open-ended answers to enrich the shelf exposure results.

Key Insights

  • Clear winner identified on the core range, while a specific variant revealed a targeted seasonal launch opportunity.
  • The rename decision proved strategy-led rather than consumer-led, a critical finding that reframed the internal debate.
  • Functional claim communication shown to improve clarity, but requires careful balance to protect the brand's natural positioning.

Business Outcomes

  • Delivered clear direction across multiple packaging decisions before any production investment.
  • Identified a lower-risk, targeted route to market for a key variant.
  • Grounded a high-stakes brand decision in consumer evidence rather than internal opinion.
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