6 min read

TTB Approved Ingredients: What You Need to Know

By FlavorSum on Jan 19, 2023

What does every brewer or distiller interested in commercializing flavored alcoholic beverages for the U.S. market have in common? They need federal government approval of their beverage formulas. So, whether you’re an R&D team creating innovative flavors for a beer brand, or a start-up with a fresh take on hard seltzer, you’ll soon need to connect with the TTB. 

Topics: Alcoholic Beverages Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development TTB Approved Ingredients
4 min read

Building Baby Boomer Brand Loyalty in Food and Beverage

By FlavorSum on Jan 12, 2023

Have you considered how your food or beverage brand is engaging with older consumers? The 58- to 76-year-old generation makes up the second-largest population group in the U.S. with an estimated 71.6 million people. 

Born between 1946 and 1964, Baby Boomers grew up amid a wide range of pivotal cultural and political events including the Vietnam War, the Cold War era, the Civil Rights Movement, and the moon landing. Many Boomers inherited the idea of the postwar American dream from their parents and were raised to value hard work and family relationships. Boomers benefited from the postwar economic boom and have since become the wealthiest generation. Deloitte estimates Boomers control around 70% of all disposable income, around $53 trillion, in the U.S. And as many Baby Boomers enjoy retirement or prepare to exit the workforce, their spending habits with disposable income are bound to shift. 

Let’s explore a few characteristics of this generation and the ways food and beverage brands can engage and create connections.

Topics: Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions
6 min read

Delivering Gut Health Through Foods and Beverages

By FlavorSum on Jan 5, 2023

Concerns about health and wellness aren’t new, but people are moving beyond cleanse diets and HIIT programs to develop more comprehensive perspectives about their well-being. Wellness does remain at the forefront of priorities worldwide. McKinsey recently reported that 80% of people across 6 countries cite wellness as important, with more than 4 in 10 ranking it as a top priority. Accenture’s 2022 survey of 11,000 consumers across 16 countries reveals 80% plan to increase spending on health and fitness in 2023. And for health-conscious people, wellness extends beyond diet and exercise into many facets of holistic health. 

Topics: Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions

The 12 Days of Flavor

By FlavorSum on Dec 15, 2022

Welcome to the 12 Days of Flavor. Take a few minutes to walk through (or sing along with) our seasonal flavor journey, filled with the tastes everyone on your team enjoys during the holidays. From gingerbread to peppermint, flavors can sweeten the holidays and create joyful memories. 

 

Topics: Limited Time Offer Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions
1 min read

Webcast: Free from Alcohol, Full of Flavor

By FlavorSum on Dec 8, 2022

People reach for non-alcoholic adult beverages for many reasons, including healthfulness, personal preference, lifestyle restrictions, and more. What was once a small pocket segment is now expanding to the mainstream. In fact, 58% of people are drinking more non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktails than a year ago (2022 Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report, Global). 

Topics: Alcoholic Beverages Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions Beverage
6 min read

ICYMI: Top Trending Food and Beverage Insights from 2022

By FlavorSum on Dec 1, 2022

2022 has been a busy and complicated year. 

  • Inflation continues to change the way people shop for food and beverage products
  • Geopolitical and supply chain concerns are affecting the products stores can keep on shelves 
  • The evolving dynamics of COVID-19 are creating new behaviors and needs

With so much going on, it’s probably not a coincidence that Merriam-Webster officially added the acronym ICYMI to the dictionary in September. ICYMI is a quick way to point someone in the direction of something interesting or enlightening available online—“in case you missed it.” The ICYMI hashtag has become a way for social media users to catch up on news or topics important to them, topics they may have initially overlooked in a busy online world.

You might have needed more time to keep up with our weekly blogs, so ICYMI, here are a few flavorful highlights from the FlavorSum team. You’ll discover trending topics from the food and beverage community, including new product development considerations, food preference drivers, and helpful tips on specific applications.

Topics: Innovation Product Development Solutions Functional Foods & Beverages
5 min read

Free From Alcohol, Full of Flavor

By FlavorSum on Nov 17, 2022

Originally posted on December 16, 2021 | Updated on November 17, 2022

According to the 2022 Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report, 58% of global consumers are drinking more non-alcoholic and low-ABV cocktails than a year ago. Alcohol-free is quickly changing from a pocket segment to one to watch. It’s still small, representing less than 6.7% of launches in adult beverages, according to IWSR. But new products with a no alcohol claim in North America more than doubled in the past year.

Formulators are investigating ways to create delicious products that mimic their alcohol-full counterparts. Join us as we examine the alcohol-free market and tap into insights about creating an enjoyable alcohol-free product without compromising taste, novelty, or drinking experience.

Topics: Innovation Product Development Solutions Functional Foods & Beverages
5 min read

Creating Lasting Connections with Gen Z through Food and Beverage

By FlavorSum on Nov 3, 2022

How is your food or beverage brand engaging with Generation Z? If you haven’t considered Gen Z yet, now is the time to create lasting connections with the highly diverse generation. Though the current Gen Z population is young, (between 10-25 years old), their influence and buying power is growing rapidly. According to Mintel, Gen Z represents 24% of the population and is forecast to have a combined global income of $33tn by 2025.

Topics: Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions
6 min read

Food & Beverage Market Trends for 2023: Part 2: Flavors Deep Dive

By FlavorSum on Oct 20, 2022

Despite a tumultuous few years (and more uncertainty on the horizon), the FlavorSum team is looking optimistically to 2023 and identifying new ways to create enjoyable flavor experiences. Our predictions for the new year feature flavors that target health to experience-driven tastes (and everything in-between). We expect some carry-over from 2022, but we are enthusiastic about opportunities to connect with people through innovative flavors. Explore our 2023 flavor predictions to discover how your brand can stand out in the food and beverage space in the new year!

Topics: Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions
7 min read

Food & Beverage Market Trends For 2023: Part 1

By FlavorSum on Oct 13, 2022

Instead of adjusting to a “new normal” like many of us hoped, 2022 was a year filled with a complex set of worries, both old and new. In addition to now-familiar concerns like COVID, health, and climate change, geopolitical conflicts and rising inflation have added to the heightened sense of unpredictability. 

Trend Hunter predicts 2023 will be a period of “incremental chaos” as people make up for time lost during the pandemic and competitors reveal new products. During continued uncertainty, brands have opportunities to offer food and beverage choices that help people find their footing, support mental health, and reach lifestyle and sustainability goals.

Topics: Innovation Flavors for Food and Beverage NPD Product Development Solutions