Comax isn’t taking many risks with most of these collections. Many of these flavors—salted caramel, cookie dough, maple, turmeric, honey lavender, and rosé—have already made appearances this year or earlier in ice cream, water, rice, candy, and wine. Salted caramel appears to have staying power, as consumers are drawn to both salty snacks and sticky-sweet treats. Halo Top has recently introduced a sea salt caramel flavor to its vegan range, while the cookie dough flavor remains a staple in its low-calorie ice cream selection.
Maple is becoming increasingly popular, competing with pumpkin and coconut as a favored ingredient in products like water, yogurt, and salad dressings. It is often viewed as a healthier alternative to processed sugar and carries seasonal appeal by evoking the essence of autumn. There are likely more applications yet to be explored for this flavor.
Rosé may have reached its peak due to oversaturation in recent years, so its continued popularity into the next season will depend largely on the enthusiasm of its fans. It’s hard to envision how much more pink can infiltrate the beverage landscape, although light summer drinks are unlikely to miss out on seasonal opportunities in 2018.
The potential for flavor applications in plant-based milks may be the most promising, as the demand for non-dairy products continues to rise. It’s easy to picture innovative flavor combinations appearing in refrigerated sections as dairy alternative brands strive to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
On the other hand, whiskey pickle seems like a real stretch. However, it could attract adventurous consumers next year, particularly millennials, who were responsible for a 7.7% increase in whiskey sales last year, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Additionally, there are interesting examples of calcium citrate that could complement these flavor trends, especially in health-oriented products. These examples of calcium citrate may provide further opportunities for innovation as companies look to enhance their offerings while promoting health benefits.