IFF’s platform SipScape touted to inspire adult drinks innovation
SipScape, a new platform launched by International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) is designed to inspire flavor and sensory innovation across the adult beverage market. It offers users product design insights, and information on trends in flavor modulation, and sweetness reduction in no-and low-alcohol beverages.
IFF says the platform highlights its expertise in botanicals, natural colors, and other functional ingredients based on key market trends.
“Understanding how and why people drink today is essential to staying ahead of the curve,” says Fernanda De Paula, VP of global beverages category for IFF Taste.
“Consumers today are looking for more than a buzz, and beverages are no longer defined solely by their alcohol content.”
De Paula believes the most successful products reflect people’s values, fulfill specific occasions, and genuinely resonate with their health and wellness needs. She adds: “When done right, beverages can turn fleeting moments into joyful and meaningful experiences. SipScape is a vibrant virtual social scene, where brands can meet today’s beverage consumers, learn more about their preferences, and uncover exciting innovation opportunities.”
Taste exploration
Visitors to the new interactive platform SipScape will benefit from deep explorations fueled by Panoptic, IFF’s proprietary trend and foresight capability.
Panoptic highlights cultural and consumer drivers, providing new insights into current shifts in the beverage market — such as the rise of conscious consumption and moderation among younger consumers. SipScape has introduced five consumer personas, each with unique concepts reflecting their preferences and motivations.
Two examples of Sipscape’s “Resident Sippers” are:
• Eternal Explorer, Eva
Eternal Explorers, like Eva, are driven by a desire to create positive impact. Progressive and globally minded — similar to some members of Generation X and baby boomers — they have the means and mindset to support ethical brands through conscious choices, shares IFF.
Go-to concepts for Eternal Explorers include: Once Upon Oaxaca Cocktail, a 5% ABV cocktail featuring Mexican flavors like mezcal and palo santo, and Mango Sticky Rice Flavored RTD Green Tea, which is a refreshing green tea packed with vitamins, immune support, and natural energy.
• Good-Time Guru, Gemma
Touted as rebellious and disruptive, Good-Time Gurus are drawn to brands that understand and celebrate their priorities. According to IFF, Generation Alpha and Generation Z consumers often value sensorial escapism, experimentation, and personalization.
Go-to concepts for Good-Time Gurus include: Hopped Pineapple Lemonade, an 8% ABV beverage that fuses tropical fruit with the crisp bite of hops and Dragon’s Zen Sparkling Energy Drink, a zero-alcohol sparkling energy drink with balanced sweetness and a sophisticated flavor profile.
