Innovation, education and sampling heart of IFT

Beverage ingredient manufacturers highlight flavor, sweetener trends

Attending my first IFT Annual Meeting and Tradeshow at Chicago’s McCormick Place on July 12 was quite an interesting and engaging experience. With hundreds of exhibitors showcasing new ingredients and flavors, clean label applications, and the latest ingredient processing and testing technology, the expansive room was a Disney World of sights and sounds. There were creative, interactive exhibits, food scientists and equipment professionals all showcasing their latest innovations and ventures.

The samples available gave me a chance to experience these new innovations for myself. For example, Tabasco and its team served up Toasted Coconut and Mexican Spiced Coffee with Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce. Philadelphia, Pa.-based David Michael & Co. brought its 42-foot RV, a part of its “Great Escape to Innovate” tour, and showcased a bourbon maple pecan shake and a honey flavored craft soda. At ADM’s booth, experts discussed sweetener solutions, its Vivasweet launch along with nutritional beverage trends.

Members of the media were in strong attendance. New to Beverage Industry and new to writing about this fascinating, many-faceted industry, I met so many experts willing to engage, explain and educate.

I also attended several press events, including one for Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients (CIFI), a new company making its debut at IFT. Based in Nashville, N.C., CIFI will kick off the launch of a new processing plant in September. Also, it highlighted its unique line of sweet potato ingredients, which provide nutritional and clean label benefits. Booth samples include a 100 percent fruit and vegetable juice blend.

With the depth of information shared and many new trends to unveil, there’s much more to share in future issues of Beverage Industry.

Barbara Harfmann, managing editor of Beverage Industry, visits beverage companies for cover stories and facility tours, and writes and edits for the magazine’s print and online components. She also represents the magazine at trade shows and events. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Illinois State University.

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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.