DAIRY FLAVOR TRENDS
From Traditional To Tantalizing:
How Flavor Boosts Demand For Dairy
Lisa Jackson, Director of Marketing at FlavorSum
Imagine the familiar taste of rich, creamy vanilla ice cream, lovingly crafted to evoke memories of childhood summers or the comforting sweetness of strawberry yogurt. The power of traditional dairy flavors continues to stand strong, but brands are expanding appeal with tantalizing tastes like spiced chai latte creamer or mango habanero cheddar. Classic and innovative flavors contribute to the renewed interest in dairy, captivating both loyalists and flavor adventurers.
Let’s explore how flavor helps elevate interest and keeps dairy genuinely irresistible.
What Do Shoppers Want From Dairy Flavors?
Taste expectations about foods and beverages continue to evolve, and dairy products are part of the discussion. With thousands of flavor possibilities, searching for the right flavor for your new dairy product can start with examining the desirable experiences people want from dairy.
Social listening platforms like Tastewise provide insights into trending and emerging innovation pathways. Taste, freshness, and convenience are critical to a satisfying dairy experience, but some of the fastest-growing areas of interest for dairy flavors in the last year include:
Cozy
Gourmet Authentic Hearty
Comforting Refreshing Artisan
Premium Unique
Indulgent
76% 59% 39% 37% 37% 34% 18% 13% 13% 13%
Each desired experience connects to specific flavor profiles across dairy segments. For example, North Americans strongly associate pimento cheese, herbed butter, and pumpkin spice creamer with coziness. Burrata, lemon Greek yogurt, and Affogato ice cream link to gourmet, and a soft, creamy, fromage frais,
WHAT’S IN STORE | 2025
mango yogurt, or blueberry cream cheese get kudos for uniqueness.
The Intersection of Flavor, Function, and Premium in Dairy
Elevated eating is a growing trend among North Americans, and Innova research shows about 40% of shoppers globally plan to spend more on in- home premium foods in 2025. North American dairy launches calling out ‘premium’ increased by 31% in the most recent 52 weeks, showing up on 12% of new products, up from 6% in 2019. How dairy brands can meet expectations for premium is changing since premium branches beyond indulgence to encompass quality ingredients that provide mental and physical benefits.
People turn to dairy as a source of protein, digestive support, and a ‘cleaner’ label dec that addresses concerns about artificial additives (colors, flavors). More brands positioning new products as premium are calling out the functional characteristics. Flavors for premium dairy products will often support functional ingredients and align with taste expectations.
• For example, a high-protein liquid creamer could feature a coconut crème flavor. The coconut flavor helps mask notes from the protein while still delivering an upscale taste.
• The probiotics in drinking yogurt can sometimes impart a tangy flavor. The complimentary flavor of mango and its association with digestive health can help with understanding and acceptability. A classic, creamy strawberry flavor will also link to digestive support.
• Premium ice creams and yogurts are more likely to have “free from” artificiality claims than other dairy segments. Both categories incorporate indulgence into premium flavors with options like Mocha Almond, Ginger Yuzu, or Chocolate- Covered Cherry.
Dairy Flavor Stories Can Create
Connections Stories can unite people with others and with brands, whether explaining the source of dairy ingredients or showcasing the regional or cultural preferences infused into a dairy product.
Storied flavors should reflect brand guardrails and make sense to brand buyers. Linking the story to a shared experience like celebration or comfort will build appeal across generations.
© 2025 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association Dairy Flavor Trends 57
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