From novel to mainstay, mapping a flavor’s lifecycle
From Novel to Mainstay, Mapping a Flavor’s Lifecycle Helps Set Product Expectations
Can a longtime “fan favorite” flavor adapt and change to a new demographic? Who’s going to be most interested in a new taste sensation or flavor combination? Those are the kind of questions about flavor delivery that can be answered successfully by studying the flavor adoption lifecycle.
Simply put, the lifecycle is the system, or methodology, that studies the stages a flavor progresses through in a specific application or product. It has four main areas:
- Mature. Legacy: chocolate/vanilla
- Mainstream. Popular: pumpkin spice
- Growth. Trending: dragon fruit
- Niche. New-to-market: cucamelon
Flavor mapping is a helpful tool for assessing existing brands, preparing line extensions, and strategic planning for new development and innovation.
How does that work? By combining the flavor lifecycle with other product positioning and strategy Sensient can guide developers to choose the most impactful flavors for a specific audience or brand.
For instance, are you working for a rule-breaker or traditional brand? The flavor lifecycle can lend hand to choosing the flavors that match brand strategy. Or maybe you targeting teens or millennial moms… Sensient primary research shows mature Millennials poll strongly when it comes to niche, new-to-market flavors. Younger Millennials and iGeneration teens on the other hand, play it safe and show the strongest interest in growth flavors. Armed with that information, Sensient can suggest the best flavor or flavor pairing for targeting consumers within a specific target group.