How IMAGINE Helped Small Giants Launch a Disruptive Snack in Just 8 Weeks
Client: Small Giants Srl
Industry: Functional and alternative Protein Snacks
Key Product: High-Protein Taralli with Nutritional Yeast
Milestone: Product launched in under 8 weeks thanks to IMAGINE’s supplier scouting and strategic R&D support
Background: When Startup Speed Meets Italian Complexity
Small Giants is a startup on a mission: reinvent everyday snacking through bold, sustainable, high-protein ingredients. After trailblazing the edible insects category, the team set out to diversify—developing a plant-based snack with broad consumer appeal and clean-label credentials.
The format? Taralli—Southern Italy’s most iconic baked snack.
The innovation? Use nutritional yeast as an alternative protein source.
The challenge? A looming deadline tied to an exclusive launch campaign with influencer Barbascura, and just a few weeks left to develop a product that didn’t yet exist.
The Challenge: From Zero to Shelf-Ready in 6 Weeks
Like many startups, Small Giants had a bold idea, a small team, and competing priorities. While the influencer partnership promised reach and visibility, the product behind it wasn’t finalized—nor was the supply chain to make it real.
The brief was clear but tough:
Identify an industrial bakery partner with the right balance of flexibility, speed, and technical skill
Configure packaging and shelf-life specs in time for a hard launch date already set
All while avoiding the typical delays of Italian supplier onboarding: slow reply times, inflexible MOQs, or lack of openness to new ingredients
What Small Giants needed wasn’t just food tech advice. It was execution.
The IMAGINE Solution: Operational Scouting, Not Just Strategy
IMAGINE deployed a hands-on, rapid-response scouting process, tapping into its proprietary network of 600+ vetted Italian suppliers, and applying four clear filters:
✅ Experience with functional or allergen-free recipes
✅ Semi-industrial scale: large enough to handle batches, small enough to iterate fast
✅ Willingness to work with non-standard protein ingredients (yeast, not soy)
✅ Immediate availability for pilot sampling and test production
From an initial longlist of 15 suppliers, IMAGINE led direct outreach in Italian, handled all technical pre-qualification, and built a shortlist in just 6 days.
Supplier Spotlight: The Right Partner at the Right Time
Among the shortlisted candidates, only one stood out:
Based in Southern Italy with strong local identity
Specialized in taralli, but already exposed to functional ingredient innovation
Delivered first test samples within 6 days of briefing
Open to yeast-based formulations and batch testing
Capable of executing industrial simulations within 30 days
IMAGINE coordinated all communication, from specs alignment to logistical feasibility, ensuring no time was lost in back-and-forth emails or misunderstandings—a common blocker when startups work with traditional producers.
The partner was selected and onboarded within 10 working days—a process that typically takes months.
🎯 What IMAGINE Delivered
🔎 Supplier Scouting
Fast, focused identification of aligned partners through structured shortlisting and pre-vetted contact network.
🤝 Operational Mediation
Briefing translation, expectation alignment, and management of iterations directly with the producer.
📦 Execution Under Deadline
Accelerated prototyping, panel testing, and industrial simulation delivered in sync with launch dates and marketing calendar.
🧩 Contextual Support
IMAGINE acted as an extension of Small Giants’ team—handling the “unsexy but essential” execution steps that allowed the startup to focus on branding, comms, and influencer activation.
“Without IMAGINE, we wouldn’t have made the launch in time. Their ability to find the right partner, communicate fast, and mediate across two completely different worlds was the difference-maker.”
The Outcome: A Product—and Partnership—Delivered on Time
Thanks to IMAGINE’s supplier acceleration:
✅ The first shelf-ready batch of High-Protein Taralli was completed in time for launch
✅ The product met the target sensory and nutritional profile, using yeast protein without allergens
✅ The supply chain was secured with a flexible partner ready to scale
✅ The Youtube campaign went live as planned, with real product behind the story
And more importantly, Small Giants now has a long-term partner capable of supporting future SKUs and product extensions.
Key Takeaway: In Food Startups, Execution Is the Bottleneck
While a strong product strategy lays the foundation, timely and execution often makes the real difference. Success comes from building the right partnerships, communicating clearly, and translating ideas into physical products ready for launch.
IMAGINE supports high-ambition teams in moving swiftly through complex ecosystems like Italy—where navigating local dynamics, processes, and communication styles can be challenging.
👋 Want to learn more about how IMAGINE can support your food innovation journey?
Imagine Food & Beverage helps brands develop custom products that combine Italian craftsmanship with global trends. From sourcing and supplier matchmaking to branding, packaging, and positioning — we offer a full suite of product development services tailored to your vision.
👉 Get in touch today to explore how we can help you turn Italian tradition into your next standout product
