Why 2024 is looking just peachy for gummy lovers

Some people like the green gummies; others the orange ones; and of course, the red ones are always popular – especially if they are real-red. But when it comes to consumers’ love for their gummies…could there be a different color - and flavor – finding favor this year? We think so…

At dsm-firmenich we know that consumers often ‘eat with their eyes’ – especially in the world of confectionery, where color perception often drives flavor expectation. For 2024, the Pantone Color of the Year was named as #Peachfuzz. In the words of the global color authority: “This soft, heartfelt hue expresses the desire to nurture kindness, compassion, and connection—all while fostering a deep coziness as we seek a peaceful future.”

This in turned triggered our own experts to start thinking how our own natural colorants contribute to this trend; as well as chewing over the flavors most likely to tickle the tastebuds this year. Following deep analysis of emerging signals in the cultural and consumer landscape by our Foresight & Trenz team, our 2024 Flavor of the Year was announced as Peach+. 

For one of the oldest fruits in the world, with a 4,000 year-old history of cultivation and counting, this marks a new chapter for this remarkable fruit – which is now available in 400 different farmed varieties. Gummies that look and taste like real peach. Sound good? If so, read on…

Let’s start with appearance. Today, our family of natural colorants - otherwise known as carotenoids - are used by confectionery manufacturers to deliver 100% non-artifical color to gummies, with no ringing, creaming up, or color fading over time. Why not peach?

Of course, there are different shades of peach – with hints of pink or perhaps orange. No matter which particular shade of peach you need, we have a colorant to deliver it. For example, redivivo (r) Lycopene is a dsm-firmenich colorant found in tomatoes and fruits. It’s reddish-peach vibes are ideal for use in gummies – and compared to certain natural pigments, offers exceptional ease-of-use and superior color stability.