Mintel Predicts Fresh Flavor and Scent Trends for 2009

Consumer packaged good manufacturers expected to spice it up next
year
CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
The new products of tomorrow certainly won't be bland, mild or
boring. Looking ahead to 2009, Mintel forecasts that manufacturers
will reach for exotic fruits and fresh, soothing flavors with a touch
of spice to jazz up their new products. Nature-inspired aromas will
also be a real hit. From food and drink to household and personal
care, Mintel's leading new product expert, Lynn Dornblaser, is excited
about new tastes and smells she expects to see hitting global markets
soon:

"Today's manufacturer is constantly looking for those tastes and
aromas that stand out and capture shoppers' imagination. By adding
exotic fruits and unusual ingredients to everyday products, companies
give people the opportunity to experiment and move out of their
comfort zones without breaking the bank."

Mintel has identified seven flavors and three scents that will
come into the limelight this year. These flavors and scents will
spread across the globe, moving beyond their core market or country of
origin, to become the heavy hitters of 2009.

Mintel's Flavor Forecasts for 2009

1. Persimmon - Viewed as a unique and exotic fruit, persimmon is
poised to make a major splash in food and beverage. Mintel expects
companies to blend it with more common fruits, as seen in a new
Japanese yogurt that contains white peaches, persimmon and apricots.

2. Starfruit - Another unusually shaped, distinctly flavored
fruit--starfruit--is catching on around the globe. Already seen in
Flor De Hibiscus's Chutney with Star Fruit (Brazil), the exotic fruit
will become a major global player in 2009.

3. Lavender - Mintel expects lavender to move beyond the home and
personal care categories and into food and beverage next year. Already
seen in products such as Lindt Chocolat Provence's Lemon-Lavender
Dream chocolate (Germany), lavender can be paired with more familiar
ingredients to bring a naturally soothing, aromatic quality to food
and drink.

4. Cactus - Cactus is already a popular food flavor in Latin
America, seen in products like Nopalia Cactus Toasts (Mexico) which
contain both cactus and corn. Next year, look for manufacturers to
incorporate this regional taste into new food products around the
world.

5. Chimichurri - Another classic from Latin America, chimichurri
is a sauce for grilled meats, recognized for its clean, clear flavor.
It has already begun to win fans in the US, seen in new products like
Gaucho Ranch's Original Argentinean Chimichurri Steak Sauce. But soon,
it should become more popular and familiar around the world.

6. Peri-Peri - Manufacturers are always seeking the next new
source of heat when it comes to food flavors. Enter peri-peri, an
African hot sauce already made popular by Nando's restaurants in the
UK. 2009 will be peri-peri's year to set the world alight.

7. Masala - An extension of the curry trend from several years
ago, next year's Indian-inspired flavor will be masala. Lay's has
already launched India's Magic Masala Crisps, but Mintel expects the
flavor to become popular globally next year.

Mintel's Scent Forecasts for 2009

1. Spicy + Woody - Echoing current trends in men's fragrances,
Mintel expects spicy and woody scents to infiltrate the home in 2009.
As most home fragrances are sweet, floral or citrus-based,
manufacturers have an opportunity to launch stronger and spicier
scents. These aromas also resonate with consumers' spicy food cravings
and are in line with environmental trends.

2. Savory - Though "meaty" and "salty" aren't words that spring to
mind when thinking of fragrance, Mintel sees these scents as an area
of opportunity for 2009. Tied to festive meals and salty snacks,
savory scents in the home conjure up instant connotations of happiness
and fulfillment.

3. Food Flavors - Just as pomegranate moved quickly from a food
and drink flavor to a non-food fragrance, Mintel expects that
tomorrow's scents will closely follow new flavor trends. From spicy,
hot tastes to fruity, exotic ingredients, 2009 could see many
innovative new aromas for home and personal care products.

A new GNPD for 2009

The Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), which monitors
product innovation in consumer packaged goods markets worldwide, has
been enhanced! The new Mintel GNPD makes competitor monitoring, idea
generation and new product development simpler and faster.

Clients can now customize the Mintel GNPD website so it instantly
accesses the information they need for their specific industry or
category of interest. Users can also gain a greater understanding of
key market trends, thanks to category, company and claim analysis
pages, as well as newly available historical reports dating back to
1973. Log in now to see these features for yourself: www.gnpd.com.

About Mintel

Mintel is a leading global supplier of consumer, product and media
intelligence. For more than 35 years, Mintel has provided insight into
key worldwide trends, offering unique data that directly impacts
client success. With offices in Chicago, London, Belfast, Sydney,
Shanghai and Tokyo, Mintel has forged a unique reputation as a
world-renowned business brand. For more information on Mintel, please
visit www.mintel.com.

Joanna Peot
Mintel International
312-628-7946
jpeot@mintel.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008