Eric Glandian – MVP Build Along Workshop
Introduction to the product/course
Introduction: The MVP Build Along Workshop, created and taught by Eric Glandian via the Food Business Blueprint platform, is a hands-on, immersive training experience for food entrepreneurs. This course is built around the concept of “build-alongside” — participants go through the same steps Eric uses to turn a food idea into a real, marketable product. From early ideation, recipe formulation, packaging and compliance, to launching a live sell test, the workshop offers a full pipeline walkthrough. The goal is to empower creators to avoid guesswork and inefficiencies by following a structured, proven process.
This is not a long, drawn-out theory class; rather, it’s an accelerated, action-oriented workshop intended to get learners from idea to MVP (minimum viable product) in real, productive steps. In promotional materials, Eric builds a real snack brand (a trail mix line) as the case study, showing in real time how he chooses flavors, designs packaging, places production orders, and stands up a storefront. The MVP Build Along Workshop is often offered as a standalone program for those who do not yet have an MVP but want a guided blueprint. It also complements the broader Food Business Blueprint community, which requires having an MVP to join. The entire experience is framed to reduce uncertainty and speed up execution for emerging food product creators.
Goals of the product/course
Primary Goals: The MVP Build Along Workshop is designed to help participants:
- Move from a rough food product idea to a functioning MVP (minimum viable product) ready for market testing.
- Create a recipe or flavor set that is scalable, stable, and consumer-friendly.
- Develop compliant packaging, label artwork, and nutrition facts documentation.
- Select and coordinate with manufacturers or co-packers, place an initial order, and manage logistics.
- Build a simple but effective online storefront or sales page.
- Execute a live sell test to validate demand, pricing, product copy, and packaging assumptions.
- Reduce the risks, guesswork, and wasted time often encountered by first-time food founders.
By the end, the workshop expects that attendees will not only understand the steps theoretically, but also have seen a real build from start to finish, giving them a repeatable framework they can apply to their own food product launches.
Content Overview or Modules breakdown
Structure & Delivery: Rather than labeling chapters with generic titles, the Build Along is constructed as a live demonstration of each step Eric takes. Nevertheless, the core content can be deconstructed into logical modules. Below is a synthesized module breakdown (based on workshop descriptions, user summaries, and third-party reviews):
Module 1 — Idea & Flavor Development
This module covers ideation, product niche selection, flavor brainstorming, recipe development in small batches, and iterative testing to arrive at a viable flavor set. Eric walks through how to choose ingredients, balance texture/flavor, and test consumer feedback to refine recipes.
Module 2 — Stability, Scaling & Nutrition
After a working small batch, this module teaches how to adjust for shelf stability, scale to a larger batch size, and calculate or source nutrition facts. It also covers regulatory compliance around ingredient declarations, allergens, and basic labeling rules.
Module 3 — Packaging & Label Design
Focuses on selecting packaging formats (bags, pouches, jars, etc.), creating dielines, and producing label artwork. Covers working with designers, mockups, proofs, final print files, and packing layout for manufacturing. It also tackles the communication needed with packaging vendors and printers.
Module 4 — Vendor Sourcing & Initial Order
In this segment, Eric demonstrates how to evaluate, select, and negotiate with co-packers or small-batch manufacturers. He shows how to place a first, low-risk order, manage lead times, inspect production, and plan logistics for shipping and warehousing of the initial batch.
Module 5 — Storefront, Launch Copy & Photography
This module emphasizes how to build a clean, minimal online storefront or landing page for the MVP. Topics include product photography, writing persuasive copy, pricing strategy, SKU configuration, and initial site setup (e.g. Shopify, WooCommerce, or simple landing tool). The goal is to launch with credibility and clarity, rather than a large full website.
Module 6 — Live Sell Test & Iteration
The final module centers around activating the MVP: launching the offer, driving a test marketing push, collecting sales and feedback, and analyzing results. Eric reveals how he adjusted based on real data (conversion, returns, customer comments) and how he would pivot or iterate. Participants see firsthand what worked, what didn’t, and what tweaks he made in real time.
Module 7 — Post-Test Refinement & Roadmapping
Once the live test is complete, this wrap-up segment helps participants interpret learnings, refine formulas or packaging, and plan next steps (scale, distribution channels, additional SKUs or variants). Though not always labeled as a separate module, it is woven into the workshop’s flow as the final actionable phase.
Benefits of the product/course
1. Real-world execution, not theory: Many entrepreneurship courses teach broad frameworks. This workshop goes deeper by walking through one entire real product build. That direct demonstration shortens the gap between learning and doing, and helps participants emulate concrete actions rather than abstract principles.
2. Risk reduction & faster validation: By guiding learners through an MVP and a live sell test, the course reduces the chance of wasted capital or misjudged assumptions. You can test pricing, packaging, flavor acceptance, and marketing before scaling, allowing agile iteration instead of big upfront bets.
3. Comprehensive pipeline visibility: Rather than focusing on only one aspect (like recipe or packaging), the Build Along shows every step: from ideation, scaling, compliance, vendor sourcing, packaging, order fulfillment, to launch. That cohesive view helps learners understand how decisions in one area affect downstream outcomes.
4. Faster timeline to market: Because participants follow a structured, demonstrated workflow, they can avoid common delays and missteps. Many early founders struggle to juggle recipe, packaging, logistics, and marketing in parallel; this workshop gives clarity on the sequence and dependencies.
5. Template & repeatable framework: The workshop doesn’t just end with one build; it provides a replicable model you can reuse for different products. Once you’ve seen how the chain links up in one example, you can apply the same logic to future SKUs or entirely different food ideas.
6. Confidence & clarity: For many aspiring food entrepreneurs, fear and uncertainty around labeling, manufacturing, packaging, and marketing can stall progress. This workshop aims to demystify those obstacles by exposing learners to real vendor interactions, timelines, and tactical decisions.
7. Lean resource requirements: Because the focus is on an MVP rather than a premium polished product, the required capital, time, and complexity are kept lower. This makes it more feasible for bootstrapped founders to take action without needing large upfront investment.
8. Community & continuous learning: While the Build Along is a standalone offering, it ties into the broader Food Business Blueprint ecosystem. Participants can tap into peer support, ask follow-up questions, and continue applying the principles in ongoing cohorts or related programs.
Target Audience for the product/course
Best fit audiences:
- Individual food creators, recipe developers, or home cooks who want to translate a kitchen concept into a packaged, sellable product.
- Early-stage CPG (consumer packaged goods) founders seeking a low-risk path to test hypotheses around flavors, packaging, pricing, and demand.
- Entrepreneurs who prefer hands-on, action-based learning rather than long theoretical or lecture-heavy courses.
- Small teams, solo makers, or microbrands who lack in-house product development or supply chain experience and need guidance from start to MVP launch.
- Brand founders with limited budgets who want to avoid costly trial-and-error by following a proven build-along framework.
- Those who are ready to commit to executing, rather than merely learning — this workshop expects active participation and progress, not passive consumption.
Less ideal audiences:
- Casual hobbyists who just want to experiment with recipes without intention to commercialize — the course assumes your goal is market launch.
- Companies already with established production, distribution, or multiple SKUs — this course is optimized for MVP and early validation, not scaling large operations.
- Learners who prefer slow, theory-first exploration and minimal hands-on pressure — the workshop is energetic, execution-driven, and expects forward motion.
Conclusion with a summary
Conclusion: The MVP Build Along Workshop by Eric Glandian provides an accelerated, pragmatic blueprint for launching your first food product. It bridges gaps often left open in startup guidance by walking learners through the full continuum of product development — from ideation, recipe iteration, packaging and labeling, vendor coordination, production ordering, and finally to a live sell test. Because the course is structured around building a real product (in this case, a trail mix line), participants gain not just theoretical awareness, but a tangible model to emulate.
This workshop is especially powerful for food entrepreneurs who want to shorten the path between idea and revenue, reduce wasted costs, and feel confident in navigating the often opaque food startup ecosystem. By end of the program, participants should have both a deeper understanding of the value chain and a blueprint they can apply to multiple new products. If you’re ready to move beyond planning and want to launch something real, this is a compelling, execution-first option.
In summary, the MVP Build Along Workshop is a high-leverage, tightly focused training for motivated creators ready to build, test, and learn — with guidance, clarity, and speed. It aligns theory with action and offers a replicable framework for future launches. If your goal is to get a food product to market as soon as possible (without spinning wheels), this workshop delivers a structured path.