SNX 2024 Flavor Showdown With VP of Sales Mike Cantore

This year, Carolina Ingredients had the opportunity and honor to participate in the annual Flavor Showdown Competition at SNX 2024! This year’s expo took place in the Lone Star state of Dallas, TX.  Carolina Ingredients handcrafted 3 new unique seasonings to fit local cuisine and culture, which you can read more about in our SNX2024 blog. 

Jenni Spinner, chief editor at Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, reported live from the expo and engaged in a Q&A session with this year’s participants to dive deeper into the event and its competitors. The discussions revolved around industry trends, consumer behavior, what sets each company apart, and of course the new and upcoming seasonings!

Continue reading to hear Mike Cantore, VP of Sales here at Carolina Ingredients, share his insights on CI and the snacking industry. 

Q&A Session

Jenni Spinner: “What does a flavor firm like yours get out of throwing down during the showdown? It’s a lot of work taking your entries from idea to the event; what do you and your team gain from the experience?”

Mike Cantore: “We get enjoyment from showcasing our ability to innovate the latest in flavor/ seasoning technology to the attendees of SNX. It is a lot of work, and we spend countless hours researching the latest trends and crafting them to the specific target audience. This year’s theme is to create a Texas-inspired seasoning, which was particularly challenging because there were so many options. The flavor that we chose is sure to impress.”

JS: “If you competed in past iterations of the Flavor Showdown, what did you learn from the whole process (from ideation, to perfection, to competition)? Did your entries ever take home the gold?”

MC: “We have competed in all of the past events. Each year we learn something new while deep-diving into the flavors of different regions and creating that wow factor of the show's attendees.”

JS: “What can you tell us about current sweet snack flavor trends and consumer tastes that might be influencing the entries we might see from the 2024 competitors?”

MC: “We have been featuring a lot of new sweet seasonings which feature:"

• Fruit and Floral Notes which highlight refreshing and aromatic flavors, a link to a healthier lifestyle, and lend a playfulness to the flavors.
• Sweet Plus Heat concepts which showcase the dynamic and evolving nature of culinary preferences. We use sweet fruits, floral honey, or decadent chocolates paired with spicy chilies and hot sauces.

JS: “Then, please share your perspectives on current savory snack flavor trends and consumer preferences in that area which might impact the savory Flavor Showdown entries.”

MC: “Our trend research has shown:"

• Amped Up Umami: We have featured seasonings with a strong savory and satisfying taste experience by using familiar ingredients such as parmesan cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes. We have also started to impart notes of miso, soy sauce, and seaweed to focus on umami.
• Global and Ethnic: We see continued growth in adventurous global cuisines of different cultures. We have featured more Middle Eastern and African flavors which offer an inspiring combination of aromatic sweet and savory spices.

JS: “Before I let you go, is there anything you’d like to say to your competition?”

MC: “Let’s get it on!”