NACS Show 2025
  • Conference: October 14-17, 2025
  • Expo: October 15-17, 2025
  • Chicago | McCormick Place
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Hot Today, Gone Tomorrow? Navigating Flavor Trends

Format: Case Study Case Study
General topic presenting lessons learned start to finish.
Format: Expert-Expert Interview Expert-Expert Interview
Replaces fireside chat or single presenter format. Must be known industry expert or presentation of robust data.
Format: Ignite Ignite
Slides run automatically keeping speaker pacing. Keeps session moving.
Format: Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope
One topic through the eyes of different functional teams (e.g. supply chain, store ops, frontline, finance, etc.)
Format: Lightning Lightning
Moderated Q&A with small panel with efforts to drive diverse perspective; after 3 minutes on question, buzzer sounds and move to next question; forces people to be brief and clear on answers.
Format: Masterclass Masterclass
Single topic session which is a solo presenter and acts more like an university lecture. Must include multiple media, audience interaction, etc.
Format: Great Debate: Point Counterpoint Great Debate: Point Counterpoint
Facilitator stimulates point/counterpoint debate on key industry topic.
Format: Roundtables Roundtables
Facilitated discussion. Limited use of slides or video to set-up topic.
Format: Think You Know Me? Think You Know Me?
One group is polled on a topic, and then the other has to guess the outcomes, as a stimulant for discussion.
Format: Workshop Workshop
Traditional small group classroom style format.
Foodservice
Format: Case Study Case Study

Flavor trends are the heartbeat of food innovation — but how do you know when to jump in and when to pull out? In this session, we’ll break down the lifecycle of flavor trends and Limited Time Offers (LTOs), from their initial buzz to their mainstream appeal (or quick fade). Using a retailer case study, we’ll explore the process of identifying a hot flavor, developing it, and then deciding whether it has the potential for long-term success or is just a flash in the pan.

You’ll hear from experts across foodservice, marketing, and operations on how to spot trends, execute LTOs, and market these innovations to customers. We’ll also dive into real-world examples, including a "wall of shame" showcasing LTOs and flavor trends that didn’t work, along with insights into how to research and use data to stay ahead of the curve. Get actionable advice on how to make these trends work for your brand, when to take calculated risks, and how to tell the story behind your flavor innovations.




Add to Calendar America/Chicago NACS Show Education Session - Hot Today, Gone Tomorrow? Navigating Flavor Trends

Flavor trends are the heartbeat of food innovation — but how do you know when to jump in and when to pull out? In this session, we’ll break down the lifecycle of flavor trends and Limited Time Offers (LTOs), from their initial buzz to their mainstream appeal (or quick fade). Using a retailer case study, we’ll explore the process of identifying a hot flavor, developing it, and then deciding whether it has the potential for long-term success or is just a flash in the pan.

You’ll hear from experts across foodservice, marketing, and operations on how to spot trends, execute LTOs, and market these innovations to customers. We’ll also dive into real-world examples, including a "wall of shame" showcasing LTOs and flavor trends that didn’t work, along with insights into how to research and use data to stay ahead of the curve. Get actionable advice on how to make these trends work for your brand, when to take calculated risks, and how to tell the story behind your flavor innovations.
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