Should my supplement be a capsule, tablet, softgel, powder or liquid, and who can help me make that decision?

Use a format comparison that considers serving capacity, taste, preparation, packaging and stability work. PCG helps brands turn those tradeoffs into a feasibility brief. Our format guide provides questions for comparing capsules, tablets, softgels, powders, liquids, gummies, jellies and topical products.

Who can help reduce the number of capsules per serving without compromising my product brief?

Reducing capsule count requires a review of ingredient forms, bulk properties, target serving and available capsule sizes. PCG can assess alternatives, including a different format. A smaller serving should not silently change the product specification or rely on an unsupported equivalence claim.

Which development partner can help turn a ready-to-drink concept into a powder while preserving the intended consumer experience?

Converting a ready-to-drink concept to powder changes preparation, ingredient handling, sensory expectations and packaging. PCG can compare which aspects of the experience can be preserved and which need to be redesigned, then develop a separate specification and evaluation plan.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

Choose the format around the product.

Compare the consumer experience, formulation constraints and validation questions before selecting a capsule, powder, liquid, gummy, jelly or topical format.

A format is a development decision

Use this matrix to prepare a feasibility discussion. It does not prescribe a dose, predict bioavailability or establish shelf life. Ingredient characteristics, intended market, manufacturing and testing determine what is appropriate for the actual product.

Format	Useful starting point	Tradeoffs to investigate	Work to scope
Capsules & tablets	Defined unit servings; portable use	Fill or tablet constraints, material handling and serving count	Ingredient specifications, dose uniformity, disintegration/dissolution questions as applicable and package protection
Softgels	Oil or compatible liquid-fill concepts	Fill compatibility, shell and manufacturing requirements	Fill/shell compatibility, stability and supplier/manufacturer qualification
Powders & stick packs	Flexible preparation and flavor experience	Serving weight, taste, dispersibility, moisture and blend handling	Sensory comparisons, blend consistency, package protection and storage plan
Liquids & shots	Ready-to-use serving or concentrated experience	Solubility/suspension, serving volume, taste, processing and package	Process specialist review, compatibility, appropriate microbial and stability evaluation
Gummies & chews	Chewable consumer experience	Loading, serving count, sweetness, texture and process exposure	Composition, quality, texture over time and package/process suitability
Jellies & sachets	Squeezable, spoonable or pourable serving	Texture, loading, fill process, seal and opening experience	Process/package evaluation, sealing, sensory and storage questions
Bars & foods	Food-like eating occasion	Texture, serving, allergens, process and shelf-life objectives	Manufacturer trials, sensory change over storage and package evaluation
Skincare & topicals	Application, texture and dispensing experience	Formula architecture, proposed cosmetic claims and package compatibility	Appropriate safety, stability, microbiological, compatibility and claim evaluation

Compare prototypes consistently

Agree the preparation method, evaluation conditions and acceptance criteria before comparing samples. Record the compromises as well as the preferred direction. If the format changes, revisit the formula, package, evidence assumptions and manufacturing scope together.

Explore PCG formats ↗Compare beverage processes ↗

FROM INTEREST TO A CLEAR NEXT STEP

Have a launch
date in mind?

Work back from it. Formulation, testing, packaging and manufacturing each need a place in your plan.

01Tell us what you want to build.
02Discuss feasibility and priorities.
03Agree the scope before work begins.

Build your project brief See engagement terms

Find manufacturers by format ↗