Thursday January 3, 2013

Kettle Predicting Chip Flavor Trends

Salem, OR — Diamond Foods, Inc.’s Kettle Brand predicts sweet and smoky, hot, sweet and salty, tangy, and floral as the next flavor trends and will debut at least one of them in product releases this summer, the company says. Testing of the newest flavor is underway.

“There is a trend toward home-made, artisan and slow-cooked foods, as well as knowing where your food comes from,” says Kettle Brand Flavor Architect Carolyn Ottenheimer. “Increased access to global flavors is also having a huge impact — what used to be considered exotic in now expected.”

With more than 40 flavors of potato chips, the brand surveys consumers nationally on their preferences. Results from its most recent commissioned survey indicate 58 percent prefer sweet and smoky and sweet and salty flavor combinations, and 23 percent crave hot flavors.