Taste is personal, but data is universal.
I recently met Zahra Navazi, an Iranian entrepreneur with a mission: sharing her incredible home-cooked dishes and desserts with the Dutch market.
While her products are ready, she still doesn’t understand her market enough. I shared a crucial piece of advice: Taste is personal, but data is universal.
- Find the Community: For those who already love Iranian food, it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Think of strategic partnerships with local boutiques and cafes.
- Bridge the Gap: For those who’ve never tried Iranian cuisine, we look to the “Taiwanese Model.” Dishes like Gua Bao became global hits because they were “approachable.” By understanding the local palate through research, Zahra can adapt her presentation and the flavors of her dishes slightly without losing her culinary soul.
My Takeaway
Don’t just sell food; solve the “friction” of the unknown. By researching what locals love (and what they hesitate to try), you can pivot a traditional recipe into a market-fit sensation.
