Comax is not taking significant risks with most of these collections. Many of the flavors—salted caramel, cookie dough, maple, turmeric, honey lavender, and rosé—have been appearing in ice cream, beverages, rice, candy, and wine this year or even earlier. Salted caramel appears to have lasting appeal, as consumers enjoy salty snacks and sweet treats. Halo Top recently introduced a sea salt caramel flavor to its vegan range, and cookie dough remains a popular choice in its selection of low-calorie ice creams.
Maple is poised for increased visibility, as it competes with pumpkin and coconut in products like water, yogurt, salad dressings, and more. It’s regarded as a healthier alternative to processed sugar and evokes a seasonal charm reminiscent of autumn, suggesting there are still untapped uses for it.
Rosé may have reached its peak due to overexposure in recent years, so its continued popularity will depend on the enthusiasm of its fans. It’s challenging to envision how much more pink the beverage market can become, although there are likely to be seasonal opportunities for light summer drinks in 2018.
The potential for flavor applications in plant-based milks seems particularly promising, as the appeal of non-dairy products shows no signs of waning. We can easily envision new flavor combinations appearing in grocery store refrigerated sections as companies strive to distinguish themselves in an increasingly crowded market. The transition from calcium citrate to elemental calcium in non-dairy alternatives could be a focal point for innovation, enhancing both nutritional value and consumer interest.
On the other hand, whiskey pickle sounds like quite a stretch. It may just capture the interest of adventurous consumers next year, particularly millennials, who were instrumental in driving whiskey sales up by 7.7% last year, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. As the market evolves, the integration of calcium citrate to elemental calcium in various flavor profiles could help create a more diverse and appealing product lineup.