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Here are the 2023 flavor trends we're watching for functional beverages, sports nutrition, snacks, and gummies—plus a look ahead at Foodarom’s new flavors for the metaverse.
Familiar flavors and healthy/better-for-you flavors are the most likely to influence consumers’ food and beverage choices, according to an Innova survey of consumers in eleven countries.1 47% say familiar flavors are the most important influencer, followed by healthy/better-for-you flavors (46%), traditional/nostalgic flavors (37%), and comforting flavors (34%).2
Among fruit flavors, berry and summer fruit flavors are the most preferred for consumers who want to feel cheerful/happy, relaxed/calm, or healthy, while citrus is the most preferred when consumers want to feel comforted.2 While these flavors continue to grow in new product launches, the fastest rising fruit flavors are avocado, melon, and superfruits.3
In beverages, superfruits are surging ahead. Global new product launches with yuzu grew at a CAGR of 43% over five years, followed by dragon fruit (26%), and elderberry (21%).4 Among beverage categories, juices/nectars and carbonates are seeing the most fruit flavor innovation.5 While orange, red apple, and lemon continue to lead in fruit flavored beverages, watch for growth in more exotic flavors.
While sports protein RTDs and bars are keeping chocolate flavors in the spotlight, we’re also seeing an expansion of dessert flavors—from caramel brownie to cookies and cream to lemon cheesecake. Sports powders, however, are showing the most innovation in fruit flavors, as seen by recent product launches.6 Strawberry is the most featured fruit flavor in recent sports nutrition launches globally.7
Consumers love exploring new flavors through snacks, making this a great category for new and unique flavors and combinations, especially those that bring on the sensory excitement. However, familiar is the name of the game for snack foods right now. For example, recent global snack food launches show a lot of activity in fruit flavors, with lemon, lime, and coconut dominating.8 This is happening the most among snack nuts and seeds, snack mixes, and potato- or corn-based snacks.9
For gummies, it’s all about comforting and happy flavors. That’s why fruit flavors make up the top five flavors in gummy supplement launches globally for 2022.1 Strawberry and orange are in the lead, followed by red raspberry and lemon (both up from 2021) and berry.2 The other gummy flavors on our watchlist also gained prominence in 2022 and are all fruit-based.
The next big flavor trend ahead is flavors for the metaverse. The metaverse is a virtual shared space that opens up new opportunities as a framework for experimentation and exploration. 73% of consumers have heard of the metaverse (up 50% since January 2022), while 61% of Gen Z and 55% of Millennials have already experienced a digital virtual environment.10
Foodarom has developed two new flavors that offer an immersive taste experience and capture the excitement of the metaverse: Electric Punch, a sensational flavor with a hint of peppery cherry and citrus notes, and Cyber Treat, a uniquely warm and satisfying flavor with notes of oats and vanilla.
Our flavors company, Foodarom, continues to push the boundaries of taste innovation to give your consumers the best product experience. Visit the Foodarom website to see what they can do.
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