David Michael & Co. held its 7th annual Innovation Roadshow in Philadelphia on October 21.

To kick off the day, marketing manager Erin O’Donnell returned for the third year to deliver her exciting “Roadmap to the Roadshow” presentation. Not only was this a primer for walking the show floor, but also an engaging review of the trends in and around the food industry that influenced the exhibits.

The Roadshow’s Innovation Showcase provided the talented global staff the opportunity to explore new concepts, conduct research or work outside of their area of expertise.

Here are a few highlights from the show:

·    Pie Pops – Everything tastes better on a stick! Attendees enjoyed 50-calorie miniatures of Apple Cinnamon and Dark Chocolate Yumberry pies. Pie Pops are excellent for foodservice and vending options.
·    Meatloaf Cupcakes – Inspired by slider sandwiches, mini-meatloafs are topped with mashed potato “frosting.” These heat-and-eat treats make excellent appetizers or even entrees.
·    Lucuma Ice Cream Novelties – Peruvian cuisine is a hot ethnic menu trend, so this year, David Michael featured a favorite local fruit, the lucuma. Lucuma ice cream outsells chocolate, vanilla and strawberry in Peru. The novelty was complimented by a cookie base and chocolate drizzle.

During the Innovation Showcase, three experienced flavor chemists presented short presentations on David Michael’s line of Flavor Sensations, which are flavor modifiers that assist manufacturers in achieving more flavorful, and oftentimes healthier, products.

The event ended with a keynote panel discussion on National Brands & Private Label: Strategies for Success. Mike Schall, senior vice president, Monterey Gourmet Foods, led a lively discussion, presenting the strategies both branded and private label experts use in marketing their products in today’s supermarket environment. Greg Venner, executive vice president and chief consumer officer of Smart Balance Inc., Douglas Palmer, vice president of Own Brands at A&P and Stephen Harty, chairman at Bartle Bogle Hegarty discussed that while both brands and private label goods are vying for the consumer’s dollar, the approach each uses to capture the shopper’s attention is most important.

To learn more the 2009 Innovation Roadshow and the products that were shown, please contact Danielle Durso, marketing coordinator at 215/632.3100, ext. 1427 or dmdurso@dmflavors.com.

About:
Family-owned and operated since 1896, David Michael & Co. has been a leader and an innovator in the food flavor industry for more than 100 years. In addition to complete product development assistance, David Michael offers a comprehensive line of more than 40,000 flavors, stabilizers and natural colors, which can be custom-designed to meet the needs of virtually any food product. With its global headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa., David Michael also has facilities in Northbrook, Ill., San Bernardino, Calif., and internationally in Lerma, Mexico (David Michael de Mexico SA de CV), Valence, France (David Michael Europe, S.A.S.) and Beijing, China (David Michael (Beijing) Flavor Co. Ltd.).