Givaudan revamps FlavourVision program, in line with key consumer trends

07 Feb 2018 --- Givaudan has announced new developments enhancing its industry-leading trends program, FlavourVision, coinciding with its 10th anniversary. The new FlavourVision edition reveals seven key consumer trends from Crafted Identities to Risk Aware and Human Connection. These trends are brought to life with over 250 market examples including a fresh take on how health, identity, and enjoyment are translated into eating experiences.

It also includes an interactive digital platform allowing for dynamic consumer trends to be tracked. A global network of cultural researchers have captured and shared great market examples from a dozen cities, with more being added daily.

“These developments represent a significant step forward for our customers offering greater granularity of insight,” says Marissa Barnes, Global Marketing Head. “They need ideas that are relevant and actionable to take a future-focused approach to product development. With FlavourVision we link consumer trends to the most pressing food and beverage challenges, and to our flavors and technical solutions. We connect the ‘wow’ with the ‘how’ for our customers in an effective, user-friendly way.”

The novel digital platform allows Givaudan to conduct virtual TrendTreks with customers, so they can find out about the latest trends in each market. Customers can see what’s on the menu at the newest local restaurants, view the most up to date food and drink products on the shelves in local stores and find out about what is in vogue locally such as vegan rainbow lattes in coffee shops in North America or Stoyn “sculptural” ice cream from Russia, an all-natural ice cream shaped as pop cultural icons that entertains the senses with flavours and the brain with shapes.

“We are really excited by the new platform which allows us to see the day-to-day development of these trends at street level in regional markets across the world. This will allow us to give our customers both a top-down view of the major trends influencing the market, complemented by an understanding of how this is playing out locally,” Barnes notes.

FlavourVision is founded on over 70 global drivers of change based on independent survey data from 33,000 consumers in 25 markets articulating changes in society, politics, economics, environment and technology and their implications for consumer attitudes and behaviors. It gives customers the most comprehensive and in-depth analysis of consumer food and drink trends available in the market.

Stephane Dupuits, Head of Regional Innovation EAME at Givaudan told FoodIngredientsFirst: “Our FlavourVision program has been running for over ten years and throughout this time has undergone continuous improvement to deliver the best trends information to our customers. During 2017 we completely revamped the program, incorporating a new digital platform and revisiting the global drivers of change to create seven updated key consumer trends.”

“Our seven trends have identified a number of key areas around flavor development,” she explains. “The Crafted Identities trend, for example, translates into food choices driven by social causes/values; novelty, exotic flavors such as turmeric, passionfruit, finger lime; flavor fusions such as beetroot & raspberry, goat cheese and chocolate, smoky avocado, basil & elderflower; and food experiences worth sharing socially. Our DelightFULL trend translates into demand for multi-sensory eating experiences and indulgent ingredients like salty caramel, dark chocolate, honey & date, or peanut butter.”

“The FlavourVision program draws on 70 global drivers of change based on independent survey data from 33,000 consumers in 25 markets. The trends we have identified are brought to life with over 250 market examples providing clarity and guidance for our customers as they develop new products and concepts.”

The latest enhancements give a much greater granularity of insight to our customers, providing them with ideas that are relevant and actionable, taking a future focused approach to product development.

“We are particularly excited about our new digital platform, which allows us to conduct virtual TrendTreksTM with customers, so they can find out about the latest trends in each market,” says Dupuits. “Customers can see what’s on the menu at the newest local restaurants and view the most up to date food and drink products on the shelves in local stores.”

“FlavourVision has come a long way in the ten years since it was launched. We will continue to extend and develop its scope to maintain its position as the industry-leading trends program, giving our customers the edge as they seek to develop new products, and respond to the ever-changing consumer landscape,” she adds.

The key trends are as follows:

Crafted Identities: As technology, social media, and globalization widen their reach, people are willing to defy traditional definitions of identity and embrace more complex, fluid expressions of self beyond gender, race, and ethnicity. This translates into food choices driven by social causes/values; novelty, exotic flavors and flavor fusions, and food experiences worth sharing socially.
Layered Wellness: People are leveraging heritage and high-tech solutions to address not only the physical, but also the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of wellbeing. The increasing quantification of health is enabling more proactive wellness measures and driving consumer demand for functional foods, "better for you" products and pure and simple ingredients lists.
Human Connection: People are craving community and human connection even as they become more mobile and independent. Companies are responding by celebrating cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and provenance. This is translating into a demand for authentic flavors and cooking methods, food with a provenance or connected to a specific culture and sustainable and ethically sourced products.
Tailored expectations: Finding scale across niche opportunities is the new challenge in this world. It is easier than ever for consumers to find products and services to meet their unique needs. Advances in technology will allow consumers to quantify and communicate their needs, permitting trusted brands to provide the most relevant solutions. This trend links to high levels of diversification and niche food and drink products alongside personalized nutrition.
DelightFULL: With a sense of global uncertainty and the pressures of modern life, consumers are seeking moments of escape and meaningful indulgence, whether that’s a decadent dessert or a novel, shareable brand experience. This is translating into demand for multi-sensory eating experiences, indulgent ingredients and exotic tastes.
Risk Aware: A constant barrage of conflicting information on health, global security, and the environment has left people feeling anxious and unsure of whom to trust. Consumers crave transparent, authentic communication from brands to be sure they’re making the right choice for themselves and their families. This is leading to increased interest in natural, organic and sustainable food, transparent labeling and minimally processed foods.
Augmented Self: As consumers seek self-improvement they are increasingly open to experimenting, from ancient Ayurvedic remedies to emerging high-tech solutions. As sensing technologies and genomics advance, people will have access to more tools to meet their unique needs. This trend is leading consumers to seek out functional and fortified foods with physical, emotional and cognitive benefits.