Trends and Countertrends
The Innova Database is joining with the Institute of Food Technologists to present Taste The Trend in a spacious pavilion, where visitors will be able to discover the trends of the future.
19/07/07 While enormous attention is given to supposed upcoming flavors and health trends, it is important to note that core flavors still dominate new product activity, according to The Innova Database. For example there has been a rise of high indulgence products in markets such as Japan, which one tends to align with health. All the while, Europeans and Americans are turning to Japanese food like sushi and tofu to stay trim.
A scan of yogurt and dairy drinks launched between January 2005 and December 2006 found that the hip vegetable (73), ethnic (17), flowers (12) and herbal (10) flavors are dwarfed by the traditional flavors that still dominate new product activity: fruit flavors (5,552) and dairy flavors (1,670).
“Countering the innovative trend in product activity is a trend towards ‘nostalgic,’ ‘retro’ and ‘authentic’ style products,” says Lu Ann Williams, Senior Analyst at The Innova Database. Addressing an aging baby boomer generation, who have plenty of money to spend but are longing for more traditional and simpler items, a new wave of products “like grandma made them,” is one the horizon, Williams predicted. Last year for example, Coca-Cola launched Gold Peak , which “revives the timeless flavor of classic, authentic iced tea.”
“Trends and Countertrends” is just one of 21 presentations that the new products information supplier The Innova Database will be demonstrating at the Taste The Trend Pavilion at the Institute of Food Technologists Food Expo (IFT) in Chicago. The Innova Database is joining with the Institute of Food Technologists to present Taste The Trend in a spacious pavilion, where visitors will be able to discover the trends of the future. The Pavilion will be divided into three separate but complementary segments focusing on: “flavors,” “packaging” and “consumer insights.”
Last year’s Taste The Trend Pavilion at the IFT Food Expo in Orlando was a resounding success, with 94% of visitors noting that they had learned something new. The Taste The Trend Pavilion attracted over 2,500 visitors last year and early interest indicates that this year’s Pavilion will be even more successful.
Ever heard of buchu, baobab or bissap? If not, you cannot afford to miss discovering why these will be some of the key flavors to watch in the next few years at Taste The Trend. Anybody who needs to be up to date with innovation in the industry will visit Taste The Trend this time around. The Innova Database will be on hand at the Taste the Trend Pavilion at booth No. 5156.
Lu Ann Williams will be speaking at the IFT Food Expo, at “Food Technology Presents: Where Do We Go From Here? The Experts Speak Out!” Tuesday, July 31, 8:30am – 10:00am. She will be among four of the world’s leading trend/product tracking experts and regulatory experts to discuss future directions and provide insights into future food and beverage opportunities and regulatory issues facing the food industry in North American and abroad.
