# Operator Spotlight: R&D Insights with Matt Craighead, R&D Manager Trubar

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-12-27
- Length: 38m
- Episode: 238
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-27-operator-spotlight-r-d-insights-with-matt-craighead-r-d-manager-trubar
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/dbac9e29

## Summary

Matt Craighead, R&D Manager at Trubar, explains the end-to-end product development process for their vegan, gluten-free, soy-free protein bars, emphasizing that manufacturability often outweighs pure flavor perfection. He details how small decisions regarding mixing order, line speed, and ingredient supplier specifications can make or break a production run, advising that formula changes should be the last resort when troubleshooting. Craighead highlights the importance of project briefs, clear timelines, and communication with co-manufacturers to navigate the 2-4 month formulation phase and the 1-2 year commercialization timeline successfully.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Matt Craighead and Trubar's Product Philosophy
2. The R&D Timeline: From Benchtop Trials to Commercialization
3. Manufacturability vs. Flavor: The Honey Cautionary Tale
4. Troubleshooting Production: Mixing Order, Line Speed, and Suppliers
5. Best Practices: Project Briefs, Communication, and Co-Man Partnerships

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Trubar (company)
- Monk fruit (other)
- Stevia (other)
- Erythritol (other)

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- [345 - Beyond the Dieline - The secret success behind Junebar! Tom Seymour and Keith McCullough](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-04-17-345-beyond-the-dieline-the-secret-success-behind-junebar-tom-seymour-and-keith-m) (People of Packaging)
- [11: The Time In-Between](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-04-01-11-the-time-in-between) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Live Episode! RXBAR: Peter Rahal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-08-13-live-episode-rxbar-peter-rahal) (How I Built This)
- [S7E19 Ryan Schoonmaker | How to Take A Structured Approach to Solving Engineering Problems](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-05-01-s7e19-ryan-schoonmaker-how-to-take-a-structured-approach-to-solving-engineering) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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