Institute of Food Technologists Trends Report
IFT in Chicago sure did deliver. This was the smallest show I have been to this year but one of the best. I'll want to attend this one year after year because it wasn't quantity with this show, it was pure quality. The level of passion I felt from those in attendance was palpable. I interacted with so many warm and wonderful people. Not to sound too gushy but I absolutely love this industry and this show was a chance to connect even deeper with so many people. The level of intimacy of the one hall as opposed to massive shows like SupplySide West allowed time for more in-depth conversations and tasting experiences.
The IMCD booth was one of my favorites for their thoughtful execution of a plated tasting experience, complete with a tasty coleslaw with vegan mayonnaise that was very refreshing and a protein bar that packed in the protein without sacrificing flavor and texture- something I personally have found to be near impossible in the market. Big thanks goes out to Pam Vaillancourt and Wanda Jurlina for being the best hosts with loads of personality and knowledge about each product in their booth.
The show also had some great graphics. IFT compiled some very interesting statistics and blew them up to be placed around the show. I stopped by many of them and really loved the knowledge they provided and how the information was displayed.
While spending time with many clients at these shows, I have often taken time to help them get professional headshots using my iPhone skills and the best natural light we could find in the convention halls. I have always thought that these conventions would be a great opportunity to have a professional photographer to capture people feeling excited and dressed to impress. IFT did just that and they utilized the skills of a very engaging photographer who new how to pull great images out of the IFT members who had headshots taken.
Can we all just talk about the Bell party for a moment?! If you don't know about these infamous events allow me to inform you- it's THEEE party to be at during IFT- drinks were flowing, a little more skin was showing, and a dj spinning Taylor Swift's classic (yes, it's that old) "You Belong With Me". Maybe he was reading the room? At this point the night was young and the midnight hour transformations hadn't occurred. I left around 11 but imagine that at the stroke of 12 the guests would become FUR-ocious beasts howling at the incredible full moon consuming all the meatless options and treats they'd tucked away from earlier in the day. The purses and man-bags would fly open and this would sober them up and giving them all the energy they'd need to lift their heels and overcome the sticky, Toroni sponsored dance floor. Now they had the stamina to sing all the runs to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer".
Thanks for going on that tangent with me, now it's time for-
Fullfilled's Top Trends
Pre-biotic / pro-biotic / post-biotic / present-biotic- this last one is just in there for fun but you get the point. These were everywhere at the show and in different forms, powders, drinks, gummies which leads me to-
Gummies! You loved them as a kid and now we can't get away from them even as adults. There are vitamin gummies, collagen gummies, Cbd gummies, flavor house expertly flavored gummies! Willy Wonka himself would have been impressed!
Sustainability is more than a trend. It's necessary. The difference I did pick up on was many companies were specifically mentioning low water consumption & growing methods / water saving products. I also heard several people chatting about crops that use a lot of water and regions where it makes sense to grow certain crops and avoid for instance, growing rice in the desert. As absurd as it may seem, the topic of water waste wasn't always as widely talked about as it is today. The general public is becoming more actively involved and knowledgeable which is good for everyone and is driving innovative solutions and ideas around the world. So let's all keep the conversations flowing. (No water was wasted on this pun, unless you took a big gulp of your drink and spit it out from uncontrollable laughter.)
Collagen is everywhere. You can blame Jennifer Aniston but I think she's sharing her love of it between Friends. PS I think a lot of you reading this are total Chef Monica's in the Kitchen, am I right?
Collagen is bigger now than a Beverly Hills plastic surgeons... Bank account. What did you think I was gonna say? We saw it featured on booth backdrops. In drinks, in $27 Erewhon inspired shakes around Chicago, in gummies.... This trend is here to stay for a while and we are going to see many companies interested in new ways of adding different types into their products.
Zero Sugar Products many featuring stevia, monk fruit and blends. NutraSweet Natural still has the best stevia we have tried because they have the smoothest flavor without the bitter aftertaste.
And the nominees for Most Prevalent Flavors:
Watermelon
Mango
Strawberry
Blueberry
Lemon
And combinations and mixtures of these.
And the winner for most popular flavor is-
"Watermelon sugar high" Watermelon couldn't be here to accept this award but asked us to thank Harry Styles for potentially being the reason Watermelon seems to be on everyone's lips.
And a couple more awards we would like to present as NFT's (aka Nice Fictional Treasures) we don't yet have real awards yet so let's all use our imaginations...
Products we love-
Gym Weed - Pear Pineapple, this energy drink is delicious and THC free in case you were wondering. We don't want anyone getting high on an elliptical. This tasty beverage created by the Flavor Insights team sings. It's flavors along with the GOAT Fuel energy drink co-created with Jerry Rice are incredible. We loved the Blueberry Lemonade.
I also want to mention Anna Ten Elshof at Flavor Insights, she's a brilliant flavors specialist with the ability to bring dimension to flavors- most energy drinks out there seem to have very 2D flavors compared to Anna's, she is giving us the Metaverse 4D. So pop that lid, sit back, smell and taste the pear and pineapple perfection.
ReGrained's coffee leaf tea! It's extraordinary, it has a beautiful aroma and is versatile in its application potential. This UpCycled and sustainable product has the potential to become one of the biggest trends in the market and a staple in every coffee shop on the planet. If you are interested in this product or the amazing story behind ReGrained and the Upcycle moments mission please reach out: Kaden@FullfilledFood.com I would personally love to help raise awareness for this incredible cause and delicious, antioxidant rich product.
One of the tastiest things we tried was Bell's "Vegan Honey Butter Baklava with Non-Dairy Coconut Whipped Topping" perfectly crafted by Chef Ben Stanley. This was a party in your mouth and Bell knows how to party.
International Glacé had the best assortment of dried fruit we have seen at a trade show ever! Everything from strawberries, various forms of ginger, guava, lemon, pineapple, mango, orange peel, and many others. They also carry nut butters & gluten free flours.
ATG foods plant based nugget was also a hit. It was thick and tasty in a time where so many plant based nuggets are heavily breaded and thin. It was really good.
Chicago is a magical city with an incredible food scene and the spirit of generosity and warmth is so vibrant here. Our hearts go out to the people of this great city who have been through so much. As an industry I hope we will all pledge to continue growing the good and to take care of each other.
In every culture food is a celebration of life. I am so thankful for each and every person I got to enjoy a sample with, have a bite with, a drink with, and even a seven course meal with. That seven course meal was at my new favorite restaurant in Chicago, Boka. Everything about this restaurant was exceptional. It was among the best dining experiences of my entire life! Share your favorite spots with us too. We would love to try them.
Thanks for reading friends!
-Kaden James
Consultant and owner of Fullfilled Foods