It’s that time again! Ok, well it’s almost that time again. Here at David Michael we’ve started our annual countdown to our favorite time of the year. No, it’s not Thanksgiving, the winter holidays or the super bowl (although any food-centric events certainly make the list). In just six months we’ll be hosting our ninth Innovation Roadshow®! 

We’re already working hard to prepare for the highly-anticipated April 25^th event and make it our most impressive Roadshow yet. There’s nothing we love more than the opportunity to showcase to our customers what we work on day in and day out.

Each year, the Innovation Roadshow® highlights our best ideas in technical creativity, new flavor development and cost-saving technology. With a laser focus on innovative products, our crystal ball view of food & flavor trends and sage insights from our keynote speakers our goal is to bring our customers pioneering ideas and emerging trends with which to recharge their innovative edge.

As the countdown continues, keep an eye on our website for more updates and sneak peaks about David Michael’s 2012 Innovation Roadshow®!

It’s hard to believe that another Innovation Roadshow® has come and gone. With 18 months of planning, our annual event was over quicker than you can even say the word “Roadshow.”

Throughout 26 booths, our global technical staff showcased almost 100 new concepts, flavors and technologies that got our attendees’ creative juices flowing.

All that noshing built up energy for presentations on food & beverage trends, alternative natural sweeteners and new EU flavor legislation. And the day culminated with a keynote presentation from Mary Wagner, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Global Research & Development/Quality for Starbucks Coffee Company. Her presentation educated our attendees on how to remain authentic to your brand, yet appeal to the local market to which you are selling.

But back to the food! When it comes to the products we show at our Innovation Showcase, the tabletop exhibit mentioned above, everyone has their favorites – based on personal preference, uniqueness and applicability – but let me share with you some of mine…. 

• Varietal Mint Ice Creams – Inspired by chewing gum, we explored the use of spearmint (paired with blackberry) and wintergreen (paired with vanilla) in ice cream, as well as a new texture. Utilizing David Michael’s Michtex® technology, we were able to replicate the “stretchy” texture of Turkish-style ice cream, also known as dondurma.

• Fortified Fruity Chicken Nuggets – For the picky eater in need of a nutritional boost, these nuggets boast vitamins and minerals, or deliver a serving of fruit. Choose from Cherry Lime or Apple Pie a la Mode (coated with real pie crust and vanilla ice cream flavored icing!).

• Aloe Beverages – Each year at the Fancy Foods Show, the number of vendors showing aloe beverages grows and grows. With their sweet taste and flavorful adaptability, why haven’t these taken off? One theory is the large pulp. Our beverage group addressed this with three flavors with varying degrees of pulp. And the flavors! The beverages were shown in Borojo Rooibos Tea, Old Fashioned Lemonade, and Spiced Peach (with cinnamon, vanilla and mastic).

• Mood Truffles – As in get-in-the-mood truffles. We’ve spotted some trends lately pointing toward aphrodisiac foods gaining favor with baby boomers. Anti-aging foods that enhance energy and vitality, are going a step further. The flavors also test our level of comfort, another emerging trend, with oyster and uni (sea urchin roe).

• Maghreb Fruit & Almond Smoothie – Not only does this fruit and almond milk smoothie highlight dairy alternatives, and North African flavors (honey fig, and honey fig with orange blossom and cumin), but it’s also a multi-purpose beverage. The smoothies can also be used as sauces for meats.

But these are just a few of the amazing items showcased this year. To learn more about the Innovation Roadshow, click here. To taste samples from this year’s show, or get copies of the presentations, please contact your account manager.

By now, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about the David Michael Innovation Roadshow – whether on our Twitter feed, an industry magazine, or right here on this very blog. If you’re a procrastinating gal (or guy) like myself, you may be thinking, “oh yeah…I’ll have to look into that…”

Well, I’m here to tell you that time is running low! We are a mere FIVE weeks away from our eighth annual show – and registrations are at an all-time high.

So, if you’re in need of a little push, I’m here to give it. Below are our top 10 reasons to attend this year… 

1. The Innovation Roadshow is a FREE event! There is no cost other than your travel and accommodations.
2. You will experience innovative flavors and applications – from out-of-the-box concepts to ideas that are ready for market.
3. Learn from experts on technologies and regulatory issues that impact product formulation in today’s marketplace.
4. Re-charge your innovative edge – we’ll get you thinking in new ways!
5. See and taste product concepts in a variety of categories – from confections and baked goods, to distilled spirits and ice cream!
6. Learn how to adapt these concepts to your own product line. Think a savory frozen snack concept doesn’t have applications for your cookie line? Think again.
7. Learn how to create, or adapt, a brand that is market flexible – how to remain authentic, yet appeal to local tastes.
8. Interact with David Michael’s global creative team, as well as others in your field.
9. Learn more about current and emerging food and beverage trends.
10. Taste exotic flavors from around the world!

Want to register? There’s no time like the present! Click here!

This last month has been busy, to say the least. As the 2011 Innovation Roadshow® nears, we have been flooded with preparations.

Our Roadshow committee sat down with the David Michael technical team to taste final concepts for the show. (It’s a hard job, folks – but someone’s got to do it!) While I can’t reveal any of the concepts for this year’s show, I’ll give you a few hints…

We’ve got a couple of hand-held foods to show, and at least one gives a new meaning to sweet & savory. One of our ice cream concepts will literally have you playing with your food. A number of exciting new healthy trends will be on display, and with all of the global flavors, you may feel like you’ve toured the world in two hours. Plus, we’re showing an interesting take on the aphrodisiac trend. And, as always, everything tastes FABULOUS!

Of course, once the review is over, it’s time for each of our concepts to get their close-up. Once again, committee members Denis Blais (senior account manager) and Danielle Durso (marketing coordinator), as well as Kelly DeFusco (senior food technologist, bakery & cereal) took over our board room, along with photographer, Anthony Sinagoga for an intensive photography session, styling for this year’s 26 booths!

Below are some behind-the-scenes shots of the photo shoot – be on the lookout for clues!

Want to attend the Innovation Roadshow on March 30^th? Learn more and register here.

Just a small selection of the ingredients needed for this shoot.

Denis “in the zone.”

Danielle tries out the role of photographer for a shot.

Kelly styling her own creation!

The group works alongside Chef Anh Nguy.

At the end of three long days, the team takes a breather! (Clockwise from left, Anthony, Kelly, Denis, Danielle.)

The Innovation Roadshow is an autumn tradition here at David Michael. Held every October, the Innovation Roadshow is…

Wait a minute… You’re thinking – I haven’t received my invite yet! Do not fret – for the first time in seven years, we’ve moved the show, to the springtime.

Yup! We’re changing the timing this year. Based on attendee feedback, we learned that the spring is a much more convenient time to attend. But don’t worry,  the show is still the classic balance of tabletop exhibition and speaker presentations that you’ve come to love.

Keep an eye on our website for updates over the coming weeks, as well as more information in your mailbox. Don’t think you’re on our mailing list? Drop us a line and let us know you want to receive an invite. Remember, the Innovation Roadshow is an industry only event – food, beverage and foodservice manufacturers only, please.

SAVE THE DATE!

David Michael Innovation Roadshow®

March 30, 2011

Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA

We’ve been reading a lot lately about stores cutting back on national brands to make room for more private label goods. And perhaps the greatest impact will be that made by Wal-Mart. When one manufacturer generates a significant portion of your annual sales, it becomes a bit worrisome, to say the least.

But is this a long-term trend, or a short-term reaction to our current economic situation? The current private label boom can be directly attributed to the economy. Food prices went up…personal finances went down. We all looked at our own carts and said, “Well, maybe we’ll try the store brand this week.” I know I did.

There are stores dedicated to private label brands – Loblaw’s No Frills, Trader Joe’s and Aldi. But the idea of entire sections in traditional markets, converting to private label, may be a bit much for consumers to handle.

There are just some loyalties that consumers are not willing to give up. You know what brands you cannot live without. Personally, I make no exceptions when it comes to my favorite peanut butter. If a store is out of stock, I’ll go to another. And at our Innovation Roadshow®, keynote presenter Doug Palmer of A&P noted a store brand laundry detergent that beat the brand-name leader in blind tests, but couldn’t keep up in sales.

Our favorite brands aren’t going away. They’re in for the long haul. But it will take some time and recovery to win back customers that have strayed in favor of lower prices. In the meantime, some U.S. manufacturers are looking to fuel growth with emerging overseas markets.

But that doesn’t mean an end to private label either – far from it. Private label brands have won over unbelieving consumers with quality and price. Moving forward, competition between the two will be intense, as national brands fight for space on the shelf.

You know, it’s funny how the Innovation Roadshow is so much like the holidays. We spend all year thinking about it, and planning for it. The month beforehand is a crunch of last minute changes, shopping, cooking, baking, planning and wrapping (well, packing).

And then, in a day, it’s all over.

Well, not totally. There’s the follow-up. The sample requests, the information requests, the surveys, the unpacking and the webinars.

But as I finish that up this week, I have to admit that I am a little sad.

Even with all of the extra work that goes into it, the Roadshow is really fun. (Which, I hope, means that it’s even more fun for those who attend!) I really had a great time this year, catching up with old clients, and meeting new ones. I love the chance to interact with everyone that I typically only “see” through email and phone calls.

And then there’s the food – Pie Pops, Mini-Meatloaf Cupcakes, Peanut Butter Plantain Poppers and Lucuma Ice Cream Novelties. And that’s only a few of the almost 30 items we featured this year! (Read about a few more in this article from Philadelphia City Paper.)

It will be odd next week, when we don’t speak about the Roadshow much – but then in just a month’s time, we’ll start the process all over again for 2010!

If you have any questions about the Roadshow and the products that we showed, be sure to contact your account manager, or drop me an email! To see photos, or learn more, click here.

You may have noticed that my blog entries are a little lax this month. While I apologize, I have been no less busy typing away. In fact, I’ve been writing this year’s booklet for our 2009 Innovation Roadshow®!

While I can’t reveal what we’re showing (although faithful readers may have caught a hint here or there), I can say that we’ve tapped into a variety of trends this year – from ethnic flavors, to convenience, to cost saving ideas. We’ve even taken a few classics, and turned them on their heads – gaining new life out of consumer favorites.

With only a month left to go, I’m looking forward to seeing our guests. Looking at our registration list, I see repeat attendees who make a point to attend every year, and some new attendees that I’m excited to meet for the first time. If you haven’t registered yet – what are you waiting for?

If you’re in product development and innovation — if you are a food scientist or technologist, R&D Director, chef, marketing executive or brand manager — you should be here!

Below, I’ve listed our TOP TEN Reasons to Attend the Innovation Roadshow (with apologies to Mr. Letterman, of course).

1. The Innovation Roadshow is a FREE event! There is no cost other than your travel and accommodations.
2. You will experience innovative flavors and applications – from out-of-the-box concepts to ideas that are ready for market.
3. You will learn about new product development and flavor technologies, including flavor modifiers, such as salt replacers and sweetness enhancers.
4. Re-charge your innovative edge – we’ll get you thinking in new ways!
5. See and taste product concepts in a variety of categories – from confections and baked goods, to distilled spirits and ice cream!
6. Learn how to adapt these concepts to your own product line. Think a savory frozen snack concept doesn’t have applications for your cookie line? Think again.
7. Participate in a thought-provoking panel discussion on private label brands and national brands, and the strategies each uses to appeal to consumers.
8. Interact with David Michael’s global creative team, as well as others in your field.
9. Learn more about current and emerging food and beverage trends.
10. Taste exotic flavors from around the world!

David Michael’s 2009 Innovation Roadshow will be held on October 21^st in Philadelphia. To learn more or to register, click here.

Phew – last week is a bit of a blur – a marathon of Roadshow related activities. Yup, it’s that time of year again. The clock is ticking as we count down the days to the annual Innovation Roadshow®, which is just over two months away (or 68 days).The Roadshow Committee met with our global technical department for final tastings on all of the concepts that will be shown at this year’s Innovation Roadshow. And while I can’t reveal anything that we’ll be showing (so sorry!), I have to say that we’ve once again outdone ourselves.

Not only are all of the products super tasty, but we’ve got some great concepts too! After all of the products were reviewed, we went into photography mode. Committee members Denis Blais (senior account manager) and Danielle Durso (marketing coordinator), as well as Kelly DeFusco (senior food technologist, bakery & cereal) took over our board room, along with photographer, Anthony Sinagoga for an intensive photography session, styling for this year’s 27 booths!

Below are a few shots we snapped over those days, just to give you a few behind-the-scenes peeks!

All the necessary ingredients for the perfect shot.

Denis’ magic notebook - his sketches for each shot.

The man behind the curtain. Denis picks out a glass for the next shot.

Denis and Kelly

Anthony and Danielle talk angles.

Kelly bringing the sheen out on a tartlet.

Danielle and her checklist.

I had the wonderful opportunity on Monday to spend the day with my fellow Roadshow Committee members at the Hyatt Regency in Philadelphia, where this year’s Innovation Roadshow will be held.

It’s amazing, with all of the hard work and late nights (and pizza!) involved in planning this show, I still get excited during the process.

We’re changing things up a bit this year. The most obvious for past attendees will be the location. Also, we’ve moved the show a little later in the month to Wednesday, October 21^st.

There could be some changes to the show itself, but it’s still just a little too early to give away all of our secrets! (Check back between now and then for updates!)

We know that travel budgets are tighter than ever this year, so we want to make sure that you’ve got this important date on your calendar.

David Michael 2009 Innovation Roadshow

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Pre-Show Dinner on Tuesday, October 20th

Hyatt Regency Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia

Want to know more about the Innovation Roadshow? Click here.

I hope to see you there!