The R&D Reset: What Every Developer Should Prioritize in 2026 with John Wrubel

Food and beverage choices reflect more than what’s trending on the shelf. Economic pressures, evolving wellness priorities, greater access to information, and the desire for enjoyment are influencing how people evaluate products and decide what earns their money, attention, and appetite.Our latest podcast examines cultural shifts influencing how people will choose, evaluate and experience food and drink in 2027.

Food safety doesn't begin when a product reaches the manufacturing floor, and it doesn't end with a successful audit.In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month, FlavorSum’s Lisa Jackson talks with Sheritta Gilchrist, Vice President of Product and Process Integrity, and Kevin John, Food Safety Manager, about the systems that help protect ingredient quality and food safety throughout flavor manufacturing.They discuss supplier and material approval, manufacturing controls, nonconformance procedures, audit readiness, and why food safety depends on people across an organization. Sheritta and Kevin also share questions food and beverage manufacturers can ask when evaluating an ingredient supplier.

Join Phil a’Becket, Senior Consumer Insights Manager and Bob Mira, Sr. Applications Technologist, as they explore how to flavor expectations start with appearance. Learn how HydroPhase™ and SelectXtract™ support clear, cloudy, and citrus-forward beverage applications.

In this episode of FlavorScience, host Lisa Jackson talks with Senior Flavorist Rex Jackson and Senior Consumer Insights Manager Phil a'Becket about why quiet reformulation is accelerating. They discuss when flavor should become part of the conversation and how it helps preserve the taste experience people expect as products evolve.

Join Phil a’Becket, Senior Consumer Insights Manager, Casey Rhodes, Applications Scientist, and Pete Sauer, Flavor Development Manager, as they explore how to balance function and flavor in reduced-sugar formulations. Learn how to optimize taste in reduced-sugar products foods and beverages.

Join Product Manager Brooke Hutton and Sr. Applications Technologist Bob Mira as they explore the role of prototyping in beverage development. Learn how teams test and refine concepts, balance bench creativity with production realities, and use structured tasting to guide final formulation decisions.

Join Phil a’Becket, Senior Consumer Insights Manager, and Casey Rhodes, Applications Scientist, as they explore how seasonal flavors can drive innovation across food and beverage. Learn how to build timely, trend-forward flavor strategies that resonate with shoppers and create momentum throughout the year.

Join Product Manager Brooke Hutton and Sr. Regulatory Specialist Holly Griffin as they discuss how regulatory shifts are shaping food and beverage development in 2026. Learn how evolving GRAS oversight, labeling updates, and ingredient scrutiny may impact development decisions.

Join Digital Marketing Manager Brooke Hutton and Sr. Flavorist John Wrubel as they discuss how R&D priorities are shifting in 2026. Learn how evolving definitions of clean and natural, lessons from recent reformulations, and smarter development strategies can help teams move faster without creating downstream issues.

Join Director of Marketing Lisa Jackson as she explores the cultural shifts shaping food and beverage in 2026. Discover how evolving shopper priorities, local loyalty, and the influence of AI are guiding what consumers crave next, and how developers and marketers can respond with creativity and authenticity.