FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Deirdre Burgess

FONA International Inc.

(630) 578-8435

New 2016 Flavor University® Dates Announced — Now with Special Sessions!

Feb. 24, 2016, Geneva, IL – Flavor University, a series of complimentary courses designed to teach food and beverage professionals about working with flavor, will hold three special sessions in addition to its regular full courses this spring.

Flavor University is hosted by FONA International, family-owned creator and manufacturer of complete flavor solutions. The non-commercial courses are consistently rated 3.9 out of 4.0 overall by attendees. Faculty members dive deep into the creation and use of flavor, to give those in the food industry the information they might have been missing. The tuition-free course offers hands-on learning, regulatory information, consumer insight presentations and information about working with flavor in real-life applications.

Courses announced so far for 2016 include:

Flavor 101®: March 14-15, April 25-26, May 16-17, Oct. 3-4 and Nov. 7-8

Beverage Flavor 201®: April 5-6, 2016 and Oct. 25-26, 2016

Grain Flavor 201®: Sept. 26-27, 2016

Participation in Flavor 101 is encouraged before attending 201-level courses.

Special Sessions will be held at 10 AM on the day indicated, prior to the Flavor 101 course that day. However, registration for the special sessions is available even if not attending Flavor University.

Special Sessions include:

Mintel Presents 2016 Food & Drink Trends: March 14

Lynn Dornblaser, Mintel’s Director of Innovation & Insight, will share 2016 Food & Drink Trends: What we see, and the impact on product development. We’ll explore five key food and drink trends that will impact new product development and the marketplace in 2016 in this fast-paced presentation. You’ll hear about what consumers think, see examples of significant products on shelves, and learn about the impact these trends will have on ingredients and products in the coming years.

Understanding the Opportunity in Clean: April 24

To launch a successful product in 2016, food and beverage companies must go beyond compliance with regulations and certifiers alone. They must identify and comply with the preferences of retailers and consumers who know what specific ingredients and processes they want, and don’t want, in their products. This presentation will provide an understanding of consumer perceptions and preferences for clean and simple products from trustworthy producers, as well as the challenges and opportunities these present.

The Fundamentals of Taste Modification, Science and Approaches: May 16

This special session will explore Taste Modification. We’ll examine the underlying neural basis for flavor perception and methods for modifying consumer taste perceptions typical of the commercial food and beverage industry. In support of taste modification development, this session will also explore some of the basic research approaches and sensory methodologies used to evaluate taste modification solutions. The special session will also highlight selected challenges in product development as well as the future of taste-based technology.

To register, visit FlavorUniversity.com.

ABOUT FONA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Founded in 1987, FONA International creates and produces flavors for many of the largest food, beverage, nutritional companies in the world. It offers flavor solutions for the confection, grain, beverage, performance nutrition, OTC and emerging markets from its state-of-the-art, 33-acre campus in Geneva, IL. FONA’s seven core values drive it to pursue excellence and foster incredible partnerships. More than just great flavors – FONA provides complete market solutions.