IFT is back and better than ever! The 2022 expo provided outstanding coverage of the major topics permeating the food and beverage industry. IFT FIRST 2022, which took place this year for the first time since 2019, offered many opportunities for learning and engagement. From presentations about sustainability, supply chain, and food labeling to discussions about functionality and flavor, industry experts gathered to share wisdom and ideas for change and evolution. You can learn about some of the sessions in our recent blog post here. 

Our flavorists and applications experts collaborated to showcase the intersection of flavor and function, targeting complementary combinations. An example is an elderberry and Citra hops flavor paired with vitamin C in our immunity beverage concept. Our insights team executed proprietary research to confirm consumer interest in the flavor pairings. Check out our recent “News from IFT FIRST 2022” blog post to learn more about our demos.

ICYMI: Innovation Evolution: How are New Food & Beverage Trends Unfolding in 2022?

It’s hard to believe that we’ve already crossed the midway point of 2022. To acknowledge the milestone, our team checked in on progress against our 2022 flavor and food & beverage predictions to better understand how this year’s trends are unfolding. In late 2021, we predicted an uptick in functional products, sweet heat flavor profiles, and plant-based dairy innovation. So, how are we doing? Our latest Innovation Evolution blog post breaks down the trends we spotted and how the market is evolving. You’ll discover which categories are experiencing growth and the noteworthy flavors that are supporting innovation. We also share new product launches that align with growing trends in this must-read article.

Supply Chain Corner: Turning Supply Chain Trials into Future Success

Food and beverage supply chain teams know that change is an industry constant, but the past few years raised the level of unpredictability. From higher prices to lack of supply and extended fulfillment times, food and beverage developers continue to struggle. In any situation, the response to adversity has a direct effect on short-term and long-term success, and brands’ reactions to supply chain issues are actively in play.

According to a recent survey by TraceGains, 35% of organizations have undergone R&D cutbacks, but another 36% insist that they’ve accelerated innovation. The dichotomy shows that the strategic response to supply chain woes is either hunkering down and reducing costs or striving to protect against stagnant or reduced growth.

What do we mean by a strategic approach? Organizations can take preventative and calculated measures to ensure they meet existing consumer demands while continuing to innovate. The TraceGains survey revealed that 69% of organizations plan to support innovation by expanding supplier networks in the next 24 months, and 25% will sure up their supply base. In one of the IFT FIRST 2022 sessions, “Rearranging the Dominos: How Food Development is Responding to Inflation and Supply Chain Challenges,” panelist Jeff Grogg from JPG Resources is hopeful that today’s challenges will turn into a “robust and interconnected ecosystem.”

Regulatory Corner: IFT Sessions Calls for Labeling Overhaul

Did you know that only 5-10% of consumers actually read food labels? (Sustainable Packaging Research, Information, and Networking Group) The low number comes as a surprise, with upwards of 95% of consumers claiming to value having access to label information.

In the IFT FIRST session, “What Role Does Labeling Play in Educating Consumers,” industry experts addressed the staggering statistic with ideas for improvement. Panelist, Robert Lilienfeld, executive director at Sustainable Packaging Research, Information, and Networking Group, urged developers, “you better be looking for other ways to communicate [with consumers].” Session panelists discussed approaches to displaying vital information. Stacey Cox, director of insights, North America Core Capabilities & Accelerators at Kraft Heinz Co., recommends getting to know the consumer and what is important to them and then approaching labeling.

If you’re interested in better understanding the current labeling parameters, explore the FDA’s “Food Labeling Guide.”

FlavorSum Expands Website to Better Support Customers

Finding new ways to better serve you is an essential element of FlavorSum’s continuous improvement, and we remain committed to delivering relevant insights and tips to support your success. The FlavorSum website now hosts dedicated pages showcasing our application capabilities. Each page represents a category within our core competencies: alcoholic beverage, bakery & snacks, beverage, confections, and dairy & non-dairy. You’ll find details about the formulation challenges that FlavorSum can help you solve and information about our flavor profiles to fuel your innovation. Discover the new web changes and all FlavorSum offers by visiting our home page!

FlavorSum Team News

Celebrating our Growing Team

Helping you reach your food and beverage development goals is a priority at FlavorSum, where our team commits to doing what’s right for your brand every day. We’re expanding our bench strength and welcoming the following team members to FlavorSum:

Phil A. – Marketing
Craig R. – Production
Logan M. – Production

To learn about new opportunities on the FlavorSum team, visit our Careers page.

In the August issue of FlavorSum Insights:

How Evolving Consumer Behaviors are Affecting Food and Beverage Innovation

Let’s Connect and Share Daily Flavor News!

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