How IFF's SipScape is Shaping the Future of Adult Beverages

Updates Within the Adult Beverage Industry

In a recent press release, IFF announced SipScape, their new platform created to lead to further innovation throughout the adult beverage industry.¹ Users will be able to access categories, such as sweetness reduction, product design, no-and low-alcohol beverages, and flavor modulations. Also included will be expertise from IFF regarding natural colors, botanicals, as well as other functional additions stemming from market demands and trends in the space.¹

“Understanding how and why people drink today is essential to staying ahead,” said Fernanda De Paula, vice president of global beverages category for IFF Taste.¹ “Consumers are looking for more than a buzz, and drinks are no longer defined solely by their alcohol content. The most successful new products are those that reflect people’s values, fulfill specific occasions and genuinely resonate with their needs. When done right, beverages can turn fleeting moments into joyful and meaningful experiences. SipScape is a vibrant virtual social scene, where brands can meet today’s beverage consumers, learn more about their preferences and uncover exciting innovation opportunities.”

IFF’s trend and foresight capability, Panoptic, will be accessible to users who venture onto SipScape. With this option, information can be found on current shifts within the beverage market, cultural and consumer drivers. For example, conscious consumption and moderation seen with young consumers.¹

As mentioned in the press release, two of the SipScape’s Resident Sippers include¹:

• Eternal Explorer, Eva
  • Known as “rebels with a cause”, looking to create a positive impact. Sharing similar mindsets with baby boomers and Generation X, consumers are seeking out ethical brands.
  • Their go-to choices include products like the Once Upon Oaxaca Cocktail, a 5% ABV drink with Mexican flavors like mezcal and palo santo. They also enjoy the Mango Sticky Rice Flavored RTD Green Tea, a refreshing drink with vitamins, immune support, and natural energy.
• Good-Time Guru
  • Represents part of a rebellious and disruptive group—often from Generation Alpha and Generation Z—who are drawn to brands that celebrate their priorities. They seek out sensory experiences, love to experiment, and value personalized products.
  • Their top choices include Hopped Pineapple Lemonade: An 8% ABV beverage that blends tropical fruit with a crisp, hoppy finish, and Dragon's Zen Sparkling Energy Drink: A sophisticated, zero-alcohol sparkling energy drink with a perfectly balanced sweetness.

GLP-1 Consumer Reporting

In June 2025, IFF unveiled their 2025 GLP-1 Consumer Opportunity Outlook report explored how the use of GLP-1 drugs is impacting the food and beverage industry and how manufacturers can better adapt to meet new consumer preferences, such as those seen with nutritional and sensory needs.²

“IFF is empowering our customers to lead the next wave of food and beverage innovations beyond traditional formulations, including helping GLP-1 consumers have choices they desire,” stated Erik Fyrwald, IFF's CEO, in a June 4, 2025 press release.² “We aim to bring back the joy of eating and drinking by offering more healthy, great-tasting nutrition choices for all consumer segments, including GLP-1 users.”

The three areas IFF identifies in the report as the disconnect between consumers who use GLP-1 medications, and their food and beverages options are²:

1. Nutritional: consumers are seeking nutrient-dense portions that provide protein, fiber, and hydration, with optimal flavor levels
2. Sensory: consumers report avoiding fatty foods, sweets, deli meats, coffee and alcohol as well as textures that are dry, sticky or dense textures
3. Emotional: consumers are navigating new relationships with food and nutrition

The report can help assist manufacturers in approaching the needs of consumers and better understand what the goals, emotions, and motivations of consumers are.

References

1. IFF launches interactive platform to Inspire Adult Beverage Innovation https://iff.prezly.com/iff-launches-interactive-platform-to-inspire-adult-beverage-innovation (accessed Sep 9, 2025).
2. McEvoy, E. Report from IFF details opportunities for serving the needs of GLP-1 users in food and beverage industry https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/report-from-iff-details-opportunities-for-serving-the-needs-of-glp-1-users-in-food-and-beverage-industry (accessed Sep 9, 2025).