Get Lost in the Sauce – Dive Into Rubs, Sauces, and Condiment Flavors

RUBS AND SAUCES ELEVATE MEALS FOR HOME COOKS

Flavorful spices, seasonings, marinades, and sauces from around the world elevate meals without complex ingredients or preparation. Research and Markets¹ predicts that the global herbs and spices market will reach $42.11 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 7.53%. Innova Market Insights² reported that table sauces saw a consistent 4% CAGR in sales value over the last two years, with 30% of consumers increasing their consumption of table and cooking sauces. Furthermore, Innova³ has identified two emerging table sauce trends: “Local Goes Global” and “Home Kitchen Heroes.” “Local Goes Global” emphasizes consumers’ growing preference for global flavors inspired by diverse regional cuisines. “Home Kitchen Heroes” highlights the importance of table sauces, enhancing home cooking by providing convenient solutions that can quickly elevate a range of dishes. These two trends converge as 2 in 5 consumers globally seek flavor experimentation in sauces, seasonings, and toppings. Mintel’s research⁴ echoes the sentiment. Almost half of dip and sauce users agree that dips and sauces are the best way to explore new flavors, and most consumers report occasionally looking for new foods and flavors to try.

In addition to sauces, there is a growing demand for dry mixtures, and brands are launching new rubs. For example, McCormick introduced a line of Finishing Salts in five flavors: Balsamic & Herb, Brown Butter, Smoky Garlic & Rosemary, Watermelon Lime, and Zesty Lemon. Flavortown by Guy Fieri extended its range with six seasonings and rubs: All-Purpose Seasoning, Burger Joint Seasoning, Brown Sugar BBQ Rub, Cluckin Chicken Rub, Garlic Butter All-Purpose Rub, and Ultimate Steak Butter Rub. Newman’s Own debuted a nine SKU line of organic seasoning blends: Adobo, Churro Seasoning with Rich Cocoa, Indian-Style Curry, Garlicky Citrus Herb, Herbes De Provence, New Orleans-Style Cajun, Paul’s Salt-Free Seasoning, Buon Gusto! Italian, Taco With Lime Seasoning, and Salt and Vinegar.

Trilogy flavor chemists are specialists in seasonings and spices for marinades, sauces, and pickles . Trilogy’s oleoresins produce excellent flavor and aroma, extend shelf life, and contribute beautiful color to sauce creations. Elevate your formulas. Reach out to discuss your needs or request samples today.

YOUNG DEMOGRAPHICS DRIVE SPICY FLAVOR INNOVATION

Consumers enjoy a variety of tastes. Condiments and sauces enable individuals to customize their food and experiment with flavors. Mintel⁵ reported the condiments market was valued at $12 billion, with salad dressings worth $4 billion. According to Datassential⁶, ketchup is America’s favorite condiment and continues to grow, with a 76% increase on menus over the past decade. Smash Kitchen⁷ surveyed 2,000 people and found that ketchup beats mustard, mayo, or even barbecue sauce as the sauce for fries. Additionally, people would rather dunk their fries in ketchup than drizzle the sauce over them, with almost 75% of the respondents agreeing.

In addition to ketchup, spicy sauces are piquing consumers’ interest, particularly the younger demographic. The global hot sauce market size reached $5.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $8.1 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 4.44%, according to IMARC⁸. Millennials and Gen Z seek bold flavors and diverse culinary experiences. For example, 45% of consumers are interested in spicy dips, sauces, and dressings, led by 55% of Gen Z, per Mintel⁴. According to Circana⁹, dollar sales for food and beverages with “spicy” in the description have increased 9% year-over-year. Furthermore, 11% of both 18 to 34-year-olds and 25 to 34-year-olds enjoy bold and unexpected flavors. Tastewise’s survey¹⁰ showed that respondents are influenced by cultural reasons 5X more than by brand when consuming spicy condiments. According to the 2024 Technomic Flavor Consumer Trend Report¹¹, 34% of consumers consider available sauces and condiments when choosing a restaurant to visit. Among millennials and Gen Z, 1 in 4 say they pack their own condiments, especially hot sauce, when visiting a restaurant. Technomic’s¹² “Harmonizing Heat” trend found that “menus experienced a heat wave in 2024, with spicy non-alcoholic drinks, hot honey, and global sauces like gochujang and harissa going mainstream.”

Brands are responding by creating innovative products that are both spicy and flavorful. For example, Tabasco launched three new mini squeeze bottles in Salsa Picante, Sriracha, and Sweet Chili varieties, “designed to fit in your bag, pocket, or keychain.” Popeyes’ most popular sauces are available in grocery stores, including Blackened Ranch (blackened seasoning blend with buttermilk ranch), Mardi Gras Mustard (Creole mustard and horseradish), and Sweet Heat (honey with spicy Aleppo pepper hot sauce). Chipotle Mexican Grill added Adobo Ranch to its menu, its first new dip in five years. It features Adobo pepper, sour cream, and an herbs and spices blend. The Kraft Heinz Not Company launched NotMayo Chipotle Squeeze to meet the growing demand for spicy condiments. It is vegan-friendly and kosher.

From savory to spicy, add some heat to your formulas. Trilogy blends science, creativity, and culinary expertise to develop condiment and sauce flavors sure to please generations of all ages. Contact us to discuss your flavor needs or request samples today.

SWICY RULES

Globally, the preference for hot and spicy foods is growing as consumers seek bold flavors, sensory excitement, and diverse culinary experiences, according to Innova¹³. “Swicy,” a portmanteau of sweet and spicy, is a proliferating flavor profile that combines the two tastes. Mintel¹⁴ found that two-thirds of Americans are interested in sweet and spicy sauces. According to Datassential¹⁴, in 2023, sweet and spicy pairings on menus were up 38% and hot honey was projected to outpace nearly all other culinary and beverage flavors by 2027. In 2024, Datassential¹⁵ found that 10% of restaurant menus have “sweet and spicy” items, up 1.8% over the last 12 months, with menu penetration expected to rise 9.6% over the next four years. Social conversations about spicy honey have increased by 32.62% over the past year, according to Tastewise¹⁶. Sweet and spicy offers a complex flavor combination, makes spiciness more accessible, and enhances the sensory experience. The proliferation of swicy can be credited to Mike’s Hot Honey phenomenon, which is appearing across multiple food and beverage applications ranging from cocktails to snacks and pizza to dessert. It’s so popular, Burt’s Bees and Mike’s Hot Honey have teamed up on the Burt’s Bees x Mike’s Hot Honey moisturizing limited-edition lip balm.

Swicy combinations extend far beyond just hot honey, offering endless possibilities. Trilogy offers a diverse portfolio of unique, high-quality flavors that are tailored to meet your specific needs. Contact us today or request samples.

CONDIMENTS AND SAUCES IN SNACK FORM

Ranging from salty to spicy to sweet, consumers love snacks. According to Mondelez International’s 2024 State of Snacking Report¹⁷, 91% of global consumers snack daily, and 61% consume at least two daily snacks. Sauces and condiments are flavorful and add zest to meals. Recognizing consumers’ interest in sauces and condiments as well as their infatuation with snacks, brands are combining the two and developing unique snack flavors. According to SNAC International’s 2025 State of the Industry Report¹⁸, spicy and globally inspired flavors, such as sriracha and harissa, have seen a 15% increase in popularity among consumers.

Frito-Lay has been experimenting with new flavors inspired by sauces and condiments in the Lay’s and Doritos brand portfolios. The popular Canadian flavor, Lay’s All Dressed, has launched in the U.S. According to Lay’s, All Dressed was its most-requested flavor, and it’s described as a “sweet, savory, and tangy, flavorful mix of Barbecue, Salt & Vinegar, and Sour Cream & Onion.” Lay’s added limited-edition Thai-Style Red Curry to its internationally inspired flavor line-up, exclusive to Kroger. Inspired by Valentina hot sauce, Lay’s Valentina And Lime is one of three finalists for the Lay’s Do Us A Flavor contest. Doritos is reintroducing its limited-edition Tangy Ketchup and Hot Mustard flavors that were launched three years ago. The Tangy Ketchup features the “sweet and tangy flavor of the tomato condiment,” while the Hot Mustard “delivers a punch of heat and tangy yellow mustard flavor.” Doritos unveiled a Golden Sriracha flavor. The “tangy and sweet blend of flavors leans on the heat-forward taste of red Sriracha and also contains notes of yellow and green Sriracha.” Goldfish debuted limited-edition Awesome Sauce Flavored Crackers, which feature “notes of sweet mustard, smoky BBQ sauce and a touch of spicy pickle for a complex taste experience.” Utz Brands introduced two new limited-time flavors of Cheese Balls: Utz Red Hot and Utz Cheese Pizza Mike’s Hot Honey Cheese Balls. Yikes is a new brand of better-for-you hot chips “disrupting the snack aisle with bold flavors, no food dyes, and a commitment to quality at an affordable price point.” The Extreme Flavor Rolled Corn Tortillas are available in Honey BBQ and Sound The Alarm varieties.

Whether you are formulating a snack or a sauce, from sweet-meets-savory to spicy infusions, Trilogy’s flavor chemists have boundless creativity. Contact us today to collaborate on your next food or beverage project.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

Spices, seasonings, marinades, and sauces are a gateway to flavor experimentation inspired by global cuisines. Consumers’ increasingly sophisticated palates are open to complex flavors, particularly the younger generations. Whether it’s classic, spicy, or swicy, these flavor profiles offer a new dimension, excitement, and customization to food and beverages. No matter what you are formulating, consumers expect an array of global flavors and multisensory experiences in a variety of applications. Let Trilogy meet consumers’ demand for innovative, tasty, and spicy flavors. Contact us today and request your samples here.