January 2012/Prepared Foods -- The flavors of foods consumers crave can vary depending on what the date on the calendar shows. In its 2011 “Flavor Consumer Trend Report,” Technomic found seasonality plays a part in consumers’ flavor preferences, with almost two in five consumers (38%) saying their flavor preferences shift according to the time of year. In addition, certain flavors are more appealing to consumers during particular seasons. For instance, pumpkin and cinnamon flavors are often associated with the fall, while tropical fruits tend to be of particular interest in the summer.
Technomic observed both age and gender differences on the topic of seasonality affecting flavor preferences. Regarding age differences, consumers belonging to the two youngest groups (25–34 and 18–24) were the most likely to say their flavor preferences change with the seasons, reporting overall percentages of 49 and 43%, respectively.