As functional foods and beverages continue to gain widespread popularity, food and beverage industry professionals are on edge trying to anticipate the next hot functional ingredient. What ingredient is in-line to be the next chia seed, kombucha, kale or coconut? This past March I spoke about the Future of Functional Ingredients at the Research Chefs Association’s Annual Conference and Culinology Expo. In addition to providing the market landscape and explaining the market drivers propelling function into center stage, my talk highlighted some ingredients that are on the cusp of gaining widespread popularity. Identifying trends and being able to predict consumer demand is a crucial component of my role as the marketing director at Imbibe, a leading beverage development company in Chicago. My insights help inform our clients’ choices during product development and shape their positioning in the marketplace. During the talk at RCA, I shared my recommendations for how to predict the next big functional ingredients. Now, I am sharing those insights with you. Here’s what to look for in predicting the next major functional ingredients.

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