DairyReporter has summarized some of the flavor and color trends that could inject excitement and innovation into dairy product production this year.

From peach to violet

You've probably heard - and then heard again - that Pantone has announced Peach Fuzz as the color of the year 2024. Pantone says the color, a shade between pink and orange, "inspires belonging, recalibration, and an opportunity for care." Tech companies and fashion houses have already caught on to the new trend, and its influence is likely to spill over into food this year.

Flavor manufacturing companies have revealed their own trends in recent weeks, and some, like dsm-firmenich, have echoed Pantone's bet.

According to the company's proprietary study for consumers, which measures emotions associated with ingredients, peach is unique in its contrasting qualities - being both indulgent and pampering, youthful, and nostalgic.

For dairy product manufacturers - especially those specializing in desserts and flavored dairy - this could be an opportunity to introduce new or limited edition flavors that tap into the new trend.

According to Euromonitor International, limited edition products featuring vibrant patterns will continue to hit the market, as consumers prefer products that evoke positive emotions as a counterpoint to a reality affected by political upheavals and climate emergencies.

"Ice creams and frozen delights, in particular, lend themselves well to flavor exploration," said Hélène Moeller, vice president, global product marketing, flavors and colors at ADM, for DairyReporter. "In fact, 71% and 68% of consumers in North America and EMEA, respectively, appreciate limited edition flavors of ice cream."

"According to a Mintel report, global dairy product launches in 2023 included floral fruit flavors such as peaches, blueberries, and lychees; the sweet floral quality of honey - standing alone and associated with fruits; nuts with indulgent flavors; and tropical profiles of papaya and passion fruit transforming into combinations of flavors," she added. "

There has also been a movement towards sumptuous violets in taro and ube, different shades of blue for fantasy flavor concepts, and earthy green shades for pistachio and matcha. Additionally, coconut has become an autonomous both for flavor and format (coconut milk/yogurt base or alternative coconut milk base).

Peach works well for flavoring drinking yogurt as well as kefir and could add variety to ranges that usually bet on more popular fruits such as strawberries and raspberries. In ice cream and dairy desserts, it could also work well with herbs such as basil, for those formulators aiming to tap into the botanical trend.

Sharp and sweet flavor combinations are on the rise, according to Moeller: "We've seen this come to life with lemon accents (lemon curd, preserved lemon), florals (elderflower, orange blossom) with honey and citrus in combinations with herbs and cherry notes," she told us.

"Blueberries in various savory dairy products, from Stilton cheese to goat cheese, cream cheese, and cottage cheese, have also caught attention."

Speaking of escapism, consumers will continue to seek an outlet for stress factors caused by global political and economic turbulence. Euromonitor research has shown that 73% of consumers facing stress and anxiety say these issues have a moderate or severe impact on their daily lives.

This remains a sustainable trend, with Mintel research from October 2022 tracking perceptions of Generation Z consumers also revealing that 72% of younger shoppers find it hard not to worry about the future, and 62% believe their daily life is stressful.

Therefore, creating products that can help alleviate everyday stress factors could greatly contribute to establishing lasting relationships with consumers. This could combine positive messaging and bold branding - without overdoing it - says Euromonitor.

Another frontrunner

In addition to peaches, there's another frontrunner in the flavor race of 2024. In 2012, Mintel predicted that "purple foods" - rich in antioxidants, alongside their visual appeal - were the next big thing. In 2019, Mintel recorded a 126% increase in purple food and beverage products launched globally between 2012 and 2018.

Being both "Instagrammable" and healthy, while also being oriented towards clean label formulations, purple has appeared in both drinkable and traditional yogurts as well as ice cream. This year, several flavor houses, such as T. Hasegawa, have predicted that ube - a type of violet root vegetable originating from the Philippines - will be the top flavor trend of 2024.

"This vibrant and unique violet yam, originating from Southeast Asia, has made waves in the culinary world, and it's easy to see why," the company says.

Similar to other root vegetables such as sweet potato, ube - pronounced "oo-beh" - has a nutty, sweet, and earthy flavor profile, making it equally suitable in both desserts and savory foods.

Rich purple, as well as red, pink, blue, yellow, and earthy green, could be a hit this year as well, according to ADM.

"As identified in our 2024 flavor and color trends report, consumers unapologetically choose flavors and colors that represent their personal lifestyle. From leaning into luxurious culinary experiences to seeking reinventions of nostalgic products and transcending traditions and geographical boundaries, the new year presents both dairy brands and alternative dairy brands with an opportunity to create captivating products that appeal to consumers' unique desires," Moeller told us.

"While accessibility is paramount, consumers still crave moments of luxurious self-expression. Velvety indulgence goes hand in hand with dairy products such as Italian pistachio ice cream or jasmine-flavored yogurt."

"We also see this come to life through dairy-based sweets infused with umami, which include unusual flavor combinations such as raspberry and parmesan, pistachio and grilled corn, and even cassava with orange blossom. These profiles play well with a wide spectrum of colors, especially sharp greens, soft pinks, vibrant reds, and warm browns. Indulgence can also help capture consumers' interest in alternative dairy products.

"Alternative dairy manufacturers leveraging plant-based ingredient notes such as oats, almonds, and rice, pairing them with salted caramel, coffee, or bananas, may find new avenues for innovation."

Functional growth continues

Considering that physical and mental well-being will be a dominant focus for consumers in 2024, according to Euromonitor, which suggests that providing quick and efficient solutions for consumers to enhance their body and mind while seamlessly fitting into their current habits could be essential. Functional ingredients could be crucial for enhancing the health benefits of dairy products, so what are some of the trends that have grown in popularity?

According to the SPINS 2024 CPG Trends report, cinnamon, red beet, and bee propolis are among the functional ingredients experiencing significant growth.

This is usually an indication that these ingredients could soon expand into other categories besides supplements, such as foods. At the same time, SPINS emphasizes that macronutrition will remain important for consumers - its research suggests that some consumers count macros more than total calories.

Protein-rich dairy products are already popular among shoppers, with new products like the recently launched Yoplait Protein continuing to debut in 2024.

Digestive health will continue to be top of mind, with SPINS saying the trend is likely to find new applications, categories and buyers in 2024, including gut-friendly foods, with yogurts containing 6g of fiber or more poised to grow by 30% in This year.

A halo of health

ADM's Moeller told us: “Certain dairy products, such as Greek yogurt, already carry a health halo for their perceived wellness attributes. In the new year, we anticipate the emergence of more unique offerings, such as funky and fermented flavors, which may also indicate.

Consumers Association for Digestive Health Sour notes provide a twist on dairy products, such as a strawberry balsamic ice cream or a blueberry kefir drink.

“Citrus also remains popular for pairing with products that support immune function. With traditional oranges, lemons and limes, along with emerging varieties such as yuzu, lime, calamari and blood orange, dairy brands can rely on citrus to appeal to consumers. ' evolving demands. Think blood orange custard-flavored yogurt or a lemon-plum dairy smoothie."

She added that white remains a crucial color for dairy and alternative dairy brands.

“Not only does it help communicate freshness and purity in products like yogurts, it also elevates dairy alternatives to better match their traditional counterparts.

In addition, our research shows that 57% of consumers associate white with products that support bone and joint health, attractive. to the evolving demands of wellness consumers.” (Photo: Freepik)