Welcome to the latest edition of Show Me What’s Hot, your monthly roundup, where we show you the hottest innovations, brands and design. This month we’re spotlighting some of the flavours that are inspiring brand innovation.
The global matcha market is worth an impressive $6.87bn and is growing at 10.9% a year. An intrinsic staple in the East, matcha’s influence in the West has proved to be far from a fad. The combination of its vivid colour, health benefits and unique flavour has helped matcha to transcend the tea category with force, inspiring innovations in new categories.
Image by Marvis
Founded in 1958 and famed for being the only signature menswear Toothpaste Marvis has brushed aside tradition for a matcha made in heaven. Fusing the brands signature heritage style with a fresh and calming aesthetic as influenced by the matcha, the line hints to a pleasant sensory experience combining old and new influences in perfect harmony.
Image by Chatty
Coming in cool is Nitro Matcha RTD start up; Chatty. The innovative drinks formula packs a 70mg caffeine punch but, with nitro infusion bringing the creaminess, holds back on the calories.
With Christmas approaching, we see a resurgence of gingerbread in all its forms. For many, this comforting flavour evokes nostalgia and festive ritual, yet this year it’s clear the humble baked good has inspired beyond the bakery, from immersive experiences to limited edition confectionery.
Image by Dior
Dior has taken over Harrods with the gingerbread immersive experience of Hansel & Gretel’s wildest dreams. The store façade and 44 shop windows have all been transformed to a biscuity vision whilst a Dior café, exhibition and two pop-up shops selling limited edition gifts have also been rendered entirely in gingerbread.
Image by HIP
H!P’s limited edition gingerbread oat chocolate is the perfect treat for vegans who want a little festivity. The fun, illustrated packaging stands out in a category rife with ‘green signalling’ and provides an ethical alternative for Christmas confectionery connoisseurs.
With consumer interest in plant-based living and alternative health products the highest it’s ever been, the mushroom market is growing in spores. From seasoning to beverages to new snack innovations, it’s clear the shroom hype has only just begun.
Image by Popadelics
A savoury mushroom snacking brand, Popadelics is an interesting alternative for your lunchtime crisp fix. Dubbed ‘superfood snacking’ Popadelics comes in equally unconventional flavours; trippin’ truffle parm, twisted Thai chilli and rad rosemary and salt. On pack, bold and vibrant colours, offbeat type and mouth-watering photography do the perfect job of building a far-out brand whilst educating consumers.
Image by Balanced Tiger
Balanced Tiger has brought vegan innovation to the protein world. Their four flavours are infused with 1500mg of functional mushrooms; cordyceps cookie dough, chaga brownie, lion’s mane peanut butter and reishi vanilla chai. These fun fungi flavours are helping move mushrooms out of the supplements aisle and into the snacks spot, offering consumers new ways to get their protein hit.
Flavour Lab
We’re no strangers to flavour trends at Missouri. Our proprietary innovation process FlavourLab is dedicated to creating exciting new flavours, concepts and combinations to feed into your innovation pipeline. The process involves a deep dive into macro trends and consumer data, which are collided with brand-inspired creative platforms to fuel flavour ideation. Concept ideas are developed and validated by a flavour SuperGroup - a hand-picked panel of industry experts, consisting of chefs, mixologists, sommeliers and F&B innovators. See our latest flavour innovation on our work page.
