David Michael takes flavor innovations on tour

Beverage R&D company visits Beverage Industry office

At the 10th anniversary of its Innovation Roadshow, team members of Philadelphia-based David Michael & Co. took the company’s flavor innovations on the road to David Michael bus share with clients, educational institutions and media across the country. Starting Labor Day weekend, The Great Escape to Innovation RV began its two-month tour of the Midwest, highlighting its latest creations in order to showcase its focus on innovation. The team also toured the Northeast this summer and plans to tour the Southeast in early 2014.

At its stop at the Beverage Industry office in mid-September, the David Michael team offered samples of some of its latest beverage flavor creations. Featuring a patriotic flair, one of the presented items was a Red, White & Blue Honeysuckle-flavored ready-to-drink (RTD) tea. Featuring red rooibos tea, white tea and Natural Blue Honeysuckle Flavor With Other Natural Flavors (WONF), the tea drink uses the health halo surrounding blue-colored honeysuckle berries to bring the superfruit into the spotlight. Highlighting the coconut water trend, the team also presented a fruit-and-veggie drink featuring the hydrating properties of coconut water. Also available was a Peaberry Coffee Cola energy shot. This beverage blends Natural Cola Flavor WONF with Natural Flavor “Peaberry Coffee Type” to incorporate coffee and energy drink trends.

The David Michael team also discussed some flavor trends that inspired other innovations. For example, the team developed ginger-flavored bourbon in line with the ginger flavor trend in the beverage industry, the company explains. Taking a page from the craft beer brewing book, the company also designed a mango-flavored pale ale. To offer a different source of protein, David Michael created a Peach Orange Pea Protein Smoothie that incorporates Natural Peach Orange Flavor WONF with pea protein, an easily digestible, low-allergen protein alternative, it adds. Finally, in an effort to incorporate tastes from around the globe, the company mixed a Mezcal torito, which augmented a traditional torito, which normally features rum, milk and fruit flavors, with the Mexican liquor Mezcal and flavors such as peanut and chocolate fudge, spiced horchata, lavender and honey, and bitter herbal tea for four different variations, the company says.

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The Non-Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at Beverage Marketing Corporation detail how established categories ― like carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, fruit beverages ― and emerging beverage segments ― such as plant milks, ready-to-drink coffees and teas ― are navigating these shifts.

This important industry event is a learning and information sharing experience for warehousing, distribution and fleet management professionals who will have the opportunity to continue to share ideas and network with their industry peers in a safe and productive format as we continue to navigate these challenging times.