Formulate Next-Gen Protein Bars

I’m building a healthy-snacking startup and need a freelance food technologist who can turn my vision of premium, next-generation protein bars into two commercial-ready recipes for the Indian market. We will focus on a sweet flavour family, specifically chocolate-coffee notes, and I’m aiming for a soft, indulgent bite that still delivers functional nutrition (20 g protein, low sugar, clean-label ingredients).

Your brief is straightforward yet demanding: develop two bench-top formulations that can scale to pilot production, write clear step-by-step mixing SOPs, and map a reliable ingredient-sourcing strategy using suppliers available or shippable within India. I’ll provide detailed benchmarks, texture references, and nutritional targets once we execute an NDA.

Deliverables I’ll sign off on
• Two complete recipe sheets (grams and % for every ingredient) matching the flavour and texture specs
• Mixing & process SOPs detailed enough for a contract manufacturer to follow
• Ingredient and supplier list with alternate options and MOQ/lead-time notes

Acceptance criteria include sensory match to the benchmark bar, compliance with FSSAI limits, protein declaration supported by lab calculation, and stability for at least 9 months months at ambient temperature.

I’ve set aside a fixed stipend per flavour, released by milestone: formulation approval, pilot validation, and final dossier hand-off. Consultants, NPD specialists, or research scholars from institutes such as NIFTEM, CFTRI, ICT, etc., who have hands-on experience with confectionery or snack bar projects will feel right at home here.

If you can engineer a soft chocolate-coffee protein bar that tastes like a treat yet meets strict macros, I’d love to review your approach and relevant project examples.