Uncovering Operator Frustrations and Fixes Straight from the Back of House

Operator-driven product improvement
What are the real pain points foodservice operators face when using our products?

Impact

This study gave our client a roadmap to reposition their products around what truly matters to operators. By addressing ease of use, packaging functionality, and value perception, they’re now better equipped to compete with top brands and win loyalty in a crowded space. It also pushed the broader category forward by spotlighting how much room there still is to improve basic tools in foodservice operations.

Client Challenge

A leading foodservice disposables supplier needed to understand why their products weren’t winning more share. They wanted to uncover what operators care about when using these products every day. From what delights them, what frustrates them, and where unmet needs might be hiding, the client seeks to use these undiscovered insights to guide innovation, strengthen brand preference, and grow profitably.

Project Highlight

The consumer isn’t always the end-user. Curion helps brands get closer to the business operators who use their products daily. 

By designing a study focused on usage behaviors, pain points, and purchase drivers through online journals, virtual 1:1 interviews, and a national survey, we uncovered operator-driven product improvement signals the brand can act on. Our work gave the product team the clarity needed to prioritize improvements and future innovation.

Key Learnings

Ease of use for operator-driven products is everything, and operators want products that work harder for them. This study reinforced something big: even in categories that seem simple, user experience is often assumed and overlooked. By digging into everyday pain points, we helped surface big opportunities for innovation for operator-driven product improvement.