Skip to content
MFS_Hunt_Valley_Compounding_Flavor_Jessica_Wynn (21)-2

McCormick Flavor Solutions Case Studies

From concept to reality or challenge to craveable solution, we’ve got you covered. 
Flavor isn’t just something we do. It’s all we do. Discover how our experts have provided solutions for brands just like you. Learn more below.

Improving an Icon: Increasing Flavor Intensity

Searching for higher flavor intensity without existing profile impact? Discover how our experts increased liking for an iconic brand’s snack product. 

The Challenge 

An iconic brand faced competitive pressure from brands with perceived higher intensity in flavor. The Goal: improve flavor intensity without changing their current profile.  

McCormick Flavor Solutions in Action 

Our teams provided descriptive analysis focused on flavor mapping the competitive set. After 30 samples were tested and reformulated based off focus group feedback, the team tested final formulas against the competitive set.  

The Result  

Improved consumer liking while staying true to the brand’s core taste and consumer. Our experts identified a distinct, ownable flavor position that set the product apart from competitors.

US TIC_Food Applications Lab_Crackers with cheese and chili pepper2

Innovation Partnership: Renovating a Heritage Brand

Looking to create relevance with your consumers? Discover how our experts guided a heritage brand to new and successful innovation concepts.

The Challenge

After decades of no new product development, a new product concept failed in consumer testing with its launch date quickly approaching. The goal: deliver new concepts, insights and prototypes with a quick turnaround of 6 business days.

McCormick Flavor Solutions in Action

Our experts reassessed the target demographic and developed a white space analysis. Rapid prototyping conducted along with gathering a rapid consumer response to the concept by bringing it to local schools to test.

The Result

12 new concepts delivered for heritage and key brand. Insights provided on target demographic and after rapid consumer testing, four concepts were qualified to meet the launch window.

US TIC_Food Applications Lab_Cookies with vanilla

Reducing Complexities: Flavor Consolidation With Cost-in-Use Savings

Searching to consolidate? Discover how our experts guided a brand through rapid consolidation of flavors to optimize their portfolio.  

The Challenge:  
While undergoing a rapid consolidation of manufacturing plants, a brand needed to optimize their supply. The goal: consolidate portfolio to reduce complexities. 

McCormick Flavor Solutions in Action 
Our experts evaluated the full flavor portfolio while requiring minimal R&D from customer. Qualification processes and product evalutiaon protocols mutually established and McCormick experts worked in customer’s lab environment to validate solutions.  

The Result 
Consolidation of 150 flavors to 75! This resulted in a 20% savings in cost-in-use with optimized and concentrated flavor replacements.  

MFS_Hunt_Valley_Lisa_Bird_Holding_Cup

Reformulating a Favorite: Maintaining great taste

Forced to reformulate? Discover how our experts guided a brand through reformulation solutions while maintaining consumer acceptance. 

The Challenge:  
A health and wellness company dealt with supply constraints with their current product. The goal: maintain signature taste and consumer experience with new formulation 

McCormick Flavor Solutions in Action 
Leveraging Optify® taste modification technology, our experts reformulated 12 SKUs in six weeks with an optimized base that masked off-notes and elevated the taste experience. The range included custom natural flavors.  

The Result 
Reformulation led to a new and improved range of products fitting the targeted health and wellness claims and consumer taste expectations.  

Looking to reformulate? Our reformulation hub has the expert guidance you're looking for! 

MFS_Geneva_Sampling Protein Drink (29)

Initiating Innovation: French’s Mustard Skittles mash up

Looking to excite consumers? Discover how our experts used social media and our own brands as a tool to create an Instagram worthy product. 

The Challenge:  
McCormick and our French’s team celebrates Mustard Day each year. In 2024, we wanted to create something that no consumer expected.  

McCormick Flavor Solutions in Action 
Our marketing and technical teams worked against fast timelines to perfect the iconic innovation. Technical teams perfected the innovation and established final packaging and secured line time in 2 months while marketing experts delivered pop up events in three cities.  

The Result 
The innovation received 5.1+B hits on social media spiking awareness for both brands.  

1_Frenchs_230609_2_Hero_Bottle_Skittles_FINAL_771_Select_230623