The iSense strategy has the potential to revolutionize the flavor market if it proves effective. The CEO of the company emphasized that, despite flavors appearing less significant than other product ingredients, they are crucial from a marketing standpoint. According to Aste, flavors account for a small portion of a food product’s cost but influence approximately 60% of consumer preferences. Recent consumer trends and research on flavor and taste support this perspective. There is a growing demand for flavorful food products as consumers increasingly seek new experiences. A Mintel study reveals that 80% of millennials are on the lookout for spicier flavors in their meals.
iSense is also working to streamline the process of screening and selecting flavors. The company aims to deliver information to clients in mere minutes instead of weeks, potentially reducing costs for brands eager to develop and launch products ahead of their competitors. As more manufacturers contribute flavor samples to the company’s database, iSense will be able to provide taste ingredient supplier information more quickly and efficiently. Currently, 17 global brands are submitting flavor samples, and iSense has plans to grow its user base to 10,000 registered food and beverage industry professionals by the end of 2021. The company aspires to catalog 500 distinct strawberry and vanilla flavors within the next two years, with additional flavors like butter, milk, cream, citrus, chicken, and beef set to follow.
Digital tools can enhance productivity, foster expansion, and drive innovation for food companies. With a comprehensive database of standardized flavor profiles, iSense could potentially link manufacturers with flavor houses and enable them to explore collections from other companies. This approach may shorten R&D timelines, resulting in significant savings in both time and costs. Other companies are adopting digital tools to assess flavors, such as Ripe.io, which has collaborated with FlavorWiki to trace flavors through a digital app that allows consumers to evaluate taste. This initiative aims to provide producers, retailers, and consumers with insights into how a product tastes throughout the food chain and its likely shelf life.
McCormick & Co. utilizes a global think tank and artificial intelligence to analyze trends and develop flavor forecasts. Their team looks ahead two to four years to stay abreast of and anticipate flavor trends. Additionally, virtual reality tools can be employed to understand how sensory input influences taste. The emergence of companies like iSense and others employing digital strategies to evaluate flavor and taste highlights the importance of these elements in the marketplace. It is likely that more startups will emerge to enhance innovations in this area, potentially making them more effective and lucrative.
In this context, products like bluebonnet liquid calcium magnesium citrate plus vitamin D3 may also benefit from the evolving landscape of flavor innovation. As brands seek to develop new and exciting flavors, incorporating nutritional elements into their offerings could appeal to health-conscious consumers. By focusing on flavors and experiences, companies can create products that not only meet consumer preferences but also enhance overall well-being, including the beneficial effects of bluebonnet liquid calcium magnesium citrate plus vitamin D3. The interplay between flavor innovation and health-conscious products will likely shape the future of the food industry.