IFF’s SipScape offers insights to discover the future of drinking

IFF has unveiled a new platform dubbed SipScape to promote innovation in the rapidly evolving adult beverage sector.

Among the trends and useful information it offers are product design, flavour alteration, and sweetness reduction in non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages. The platform also demonstrates IFF’s ability to incorporate botanicals, natural hues, and other practical additions in response to market requests and contemporary trends.

“Understanding how and why people drink today is essential to staying ahead,” said Fernanda De Paula, vice president of global beverages category for IFF Taste. “Consumers are looking for more than a buzz, and drinks are no longer defined solely by their alcohol content. The most successful new products are those that reflect people’s values, fulfil specific occasions and genuinely resonate with their needs.

“When done right, beverages can turn fleeting moments into joyful and meaningful experiences. SipScape is a vibrant virtual social scene, where brands can meet today’s beverage consumers, learn more about their preferences and uncover exciting innovation opportunities.”

Visitors to SipScape will benefit from deep explorations fuelled by PANOPTIC, IFF’s proprietary trend and foresight capability. PANOPTIC has decoded cultural and consumer drivers, providing new insights into current shifts in the beverage market — such as the rise of conscious consumption and moderation among younger consumers. SipScape introduces five new consumer personas, each paired with distinctive concepts that reflect their unique preferences and motivations.

Two of the Sipscape’s resident sippers are:

1 Eternal Explorer, Eva

Eternal Explorers, like Eva, are “rebels with a cause,” driven by a desire to create positive impact. Progressive and globally minded — similar to some members of Generation X and baby boomers — they have the means and mindset to support ethical brands through conscious choices.

Go-to concepts for Eternal Explorers include: 

• Once Upon Oaxaca Cocktail — a 5% ABV cocktail featuring Mexican flavours like mezcal and palo santo.
• Mango Sticky Rice Flavoured RTD Green Tea — a refreshing green tea packed with vitamins, immune support and natural energy.

2 Good-Time Guru, Gemma

Rebellious and disruptive, Good-Time Gurus are drawn to brands that not only understand their priorities but also celebrate them. Often Generation Alpha and Generation Z consumers, they value sensorial escapism, experimentation and personalisation.

Go-to concepts for Good-Time Gurus include:

• Hopped Pineapple Lemonade — an 8% ABV beverage that fuses tropical fruit with the crisp bite of hops.
• Dragon’s Zen Sparkling Energy Drink — a zero-alcohol sparkling energy drink with balanced sweetness and a sophisticated flavour profile.