Business Model to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption with an Amazonian Fruit Beverage Sweetened with Yacon Syrup Using Lean Methodologies

The predominance of ultra-processed and sugary beverages in the market has created an urgent need for nutritious alternatives. This issue significantly impacts public health, highlighting the necessity for healthier options. Despite efforts by the World Health Organization to promote healthy eating, natural and nutritious products remain scarce. This study presents a business model for introducing an Amazonian fruit-based beverage sweetened with yacon syrup, an innovative solution focused on reducing the consumption of sugary drinks, integrating methodologies. To validate this business model, a combinatorial entrepreneurship model integrating Lean Startup and Scrum was developed, structured into five phases to enable rapid and efficient product development iterations. This entrepreneurship model focuses on validating the beverage which is the value proposition of the business model. Also, the pricing and channel of the model are validated. The validation process included surveys of 384 university students and adults from socioeconomic levels A/B-C. The beverage was technically and experimentally evaluated, showing high acceptance. Among respondents, 87.5% confirmed the prevalence of ultra-processed products and the difficulty in finding natural options. In organoleptic tests, the beverage received high average scores for taste (3.5), aroma (3.4), and sweetness (3.3) on a 1-to-4 scale. Regarding the business model, 55% of respondents accepted a price range of 7 to 9 soles (USD 1.89-2.43), and 90% preferred receiving promotions via social media. The study confirms the beverage’s market acceptance and commercial viability. The conclusion is that the proposed product meets the demand for healthy options and demonstrates high market potential.