Soup is comforting, but consumers want more excitement and flair. While traditional standbys, such as clam chowder and cream of tomato, still dominate the market, soups with gourmet ingredients, health-oriented ingredient labels and innovative packaging quickly are graining ground.
Trend tracking is not only a key PF editors' responsibility, but also an enjoyable task. March ushered in two sentinel events that provided guidance as to what will be hot
In this health-oriented era where the consumer is looking for a quick fix, the functional food category has a great deal of potential. Yet, much of that potential remains unrealized.
The 2005 Prepared Foods' “R&D Trends Survey: New Flavorings Systems” constructs a blueprint that manufacturers can follow as they prepare to create new, flavorful products marketable to today's sophisticated customers.
Joining the myriad of flavored waters already on the market is PepsiCo's (Purchase, N.Y.) release of its new Aquafina FlavorSplash Flavored Water. Flavored with the likes of raspberry, wildberry and citrus, the water is intended as a complement to Gatorade's (Chicago) Propel Fitness Water, with FlavorSplash positioned for refreshment and Propel having a fitness positioning.
The 2005 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended two cups of fruit per day, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, and fast-food restaurants are jumping at the chance to help consumers fill that requirement.
It is tempting to claim that either chefs or food developers are the dominating force behind a good-tasting, well-received prepared food. However, at a local meeting of the IFT, food professionals agreed that it takes both camps to make a product consumers find inviting.
Whey protein is quickly becoming the ingredient of choice for many formulators. The ingredient's résumé contains an impressive list of functional and nutritional properties--a neutral, mild taste chief among them--leading to its inclusion in formulations that span every aisle in the supermarket.
The taste and content of healthy beverages has come a long way since bottled water. However, if a “better-for-you” product does not balance health perception, texture and taste, consumer acceptance will be a complete washout.
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