Over the past year, Takasago has been paying attention to consumer behavior and preferences, using these insights to inform its R&D efforts. Their global consumer insights team has seen the demand for natural but flavorful foods, and the team responded with an expanded natural flavor technology portfolio. Company leaders outline how Takasago is adapting to global changes in diet, emerging technologies and what they believe is next on the flavor horizon.
Takasago International Corporation
Tokyo, Japan
2024 Sales: ¥229.2 billion
Can you give a brief overview of some key highlights of milestones the company reached over the last 12 months?
In 2024, Takasago flavor business is showing steady growth globally in the first year of NGP-2 (Takasago New Global Management Plan), in spite of global resource
Satoshi Masumura, president and chief executive officer, TakasagoCourtesy of Takasago
In addition, we have established the Asia Flavor Strategy department, deployed in Singapore, to enhance Asia-Focus strategy (as a key initiative for Global Flavor NGP-2) to organize collective strategies across the region.
How is your company adapting to global changes in dietary habits and flavor expectations?
Takasago is committed to staying ahead of changes in consumer behavior and preferences. Our recent consumer pulse study, conducted by our global consumer insights team across 18 countries, reveals that consumers are increasingly interested in food and beverage products containing natural ingredients. They seek wholesome products that provide essential nutrients, such as protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, while avoiding those high in calories, sugar, salt and fat. However, consumers are not willing to compromise on taste. Despite the health benefits of a product, it must taste good for consumers to purchase it.
These insights have been integrated into our Global Flavor R&D pipeline. We are expanding our natural flavor technology portfolio and establishing an innovation program aimed at enhancing the overall taste experience to meet consumer expectations.
How is artificial intelligence currently being implemented in your flavor creation and business operations?
Takasago has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) at various stages of our innovation program. At the front end, our global consumer insights team utilizes cutting-edge AI technology to gain comprehensive consumer and market intelligence from big data sources worldwide, enabling us to stay ahead of consumer trends. Additionally, we leverage AI to uncover emerging flavors and flavor combinations that appeal to consumers across different regions. With the numerous new flavor ideas we discover, our goal is to integrate AI in the flavor creation process, selecting flavor combinations that create taste synergy based on their chemical compounds. We are also considering how we shall utilize AI technology for efficient process for the flavor creation and optimizing technology information to support the flavorists.
What key consumer trends do you believe will shape the future of flavor preferences and development?
Our global consumer insights and marketing team has identified seven key macro trends for 2025 and beyond. We believe these trends will shape the future of flavor preferences and development. Among the trends that are in the spotlight, two stand out: “My Body, My Needs” and “Inner Balance.” These trends reflect the growing consumer focus on using food to enhance both physical and emotional wellbeing. Takasago has conducted in-depth consumer research to better understand flavor expectations in the wellness area, helping to guide the future of flavor innovation.
The other trend which continues to grow is “Planet Positive”. Consumers are becoming more concerned about climate change impacts and are starting to take actions toward sustainability. This is another area where Takasago has invested in flavor technology to address future scenarios when natural materials and ingredients become scarce or unavailable due to climate changes.
In response to these trends, we keep developing our products and new solutions in flavor technology, ensuring that they support both the wellbeing of individuals and the planet in accordance with our Vision 2040: care for people, respect the environment.
