FUEL your symphony of senses with Try & Tell©

A real-life example: FUEL10K Protein Porridge Oats

Let’s look at FUEL10K’s protein porridge oats. It taps into exactly the right trends: convenient, nutritious and protein-rich. Just add hot water and you’re good to go. But to understand whether the product truly delivers, we need to look at the full sensory experience with Try & Tell©. Watch the video and let’s walk through the sensory journey together.

The journey starts with sight. The purple colour catches attention, and the brand name gives off strong, energetic cues. So far, so good. But after that first glance, things get messy. There is text everywhere, repeated claims, three languages, and no clear focal point. Even the flavour is hard to find. The see-through bottom gives a preview of the product, but the powdery contents are more informative than tempting.

It is also worth noting that the pack featured on FUEL10K’s website appears to differ from the one currently seen in retail. This highlights an important truth in consumer research: what matters is not the intended experience, but the one consumers actually encounter.

Next comes touch, and this works in the product’s favour. The sturdy packgives a reassuring quality cue, while the recyclable paper wrap adds to the product’s healthy and responsible feel.

Then comes sound. Peeling open the lid gives that nice, crisp tear you want from a sealed pack. However, the lid does not open cleanly and actually tears, which detracts from the overall experience.

On to smell. The aroma before is subtle and neutral, not unpleasant but doing little to spark appetite. We’ll have to see how that changes once the product is prepared.

When it is time to prepare the product, finding the instructions is a challenge. They are partially covered by product residue inside the pack and difficult to locate on the already crowded packaging.

After adding boiling water and stirring, the sensory picture evolves. The smell becomes stronger and more attractive, but the texture turns watery, with noticeably tough oat pieces. Not an attractive sight.

Finally, there is taste. By now, expectations have been set for a chocolate flavour, but the product does not fully deliver. The taste falls short of a clear and recognisable chocolate experience.

So, what is the overall verdict? Touch performs well, and smell improves after preparation. However, sight struggles throughout, sound signals a packaging issue, and taste does not meet expectations. This imbalance disrupts what should be a coherent symphony of senses.

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Now what could FUEL10K do to ‘fuel’ itsproduct experience?

• Reduce pack clutter and repeated claims
• Make flavour and preparation instructions easier to find
• Improve the foil lid to prevent tearing
• Ensure the taste delivers on the promise

That is where Try & Tell© adds real value. By using video to capture behaviour and reactions in the moment, it enables brands to move beyond claimed feedback and understand the product experience as it is truly lived. That leads to sharper diagnosis, clearer priorities and more confident decisions, which in turn help create brand experiences that leave an impactful impression from start to finish to grow both trial and repeat purchase.

Many brands are already seeing the benefits of integrating video into product testing. So, let’s end with a lovely client quote (not related to the example shown above):

“I received a lot of positive reactions on theintegration of video within our product testing solution. Not only didMarketing & Sales really felt it captured reality much more. Moreimportantly, we also received additional insight. We are keeping our eyes open,would love to apply this into other types of research as well. It is definitelyon our radar.” - Senior Global R&D Insight Manager at Friesland Campina

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Want to uncover how your products or services, or those of your competitors, perform across the full multisensory product experience journey? Try & Tell© is here to help. Let’s explore together how we can support your business goals!