The year 1923 was a momentous for America. That’s when Walt Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the first issue of TIME Magazine hit newsstands, and Virginia Dare Extract Company entered the food and beverage industry as an extracts and flavor supplier.
This year marks Virginia Dare’s 100th in business. Today, the company is now a world leader in flavor development, manufacturing, and distribution, and the global market standard for vanilla extracts.
“Upholding the taste experience through flavor is what we have been focused on since day one,” Virginia Dare’s President Howard Smith said. “Flavor truly is forever. All of us have tastes that take us back to specific moments in our lives – whether it’s a vanilla soft serve ice cream cone or cotton candy from the carnival. Our team is so proud to be a part of some of the memories that consumers hold dearest.”
Virginia Dare is celebrating its centennial at the IFT FIRST and SupplySide West trade shows with booth events where show attendees can toast to the future of flavor. Virginia Dare sees this future as one that will continue to move toward health and wellness.
At IFT FIRST, Booth S0705, Virginia Dare will sample the following wellness-focused applications:
• Blueberry Granola-flavored cold brew oatmilk latte
• Spiced Peach Cobbler-flavored black tea beverage
• Jasmine Mojito-flavored sparkling zero-proof cocktail
• Tropical Lychee Melon Mango-flavored whey protein shake mix
• Sweet-N-Salty Toffee Pecan Brittle-flavored whey protein shake mix
• Rainbow Candy-flavored vitamin pixy sticks
• Super Berry Lemonade-flavored EPA/DHA gummies
• Strawberry-flavored functional fruit snacks for relaxation
• Blueberry Açai-flavored functional fruit snacks for immunity
“Our samples will highlight the biggest trends shaping the flavor industry, from nostalgia-inspired profiles to exotic fruits,” Virginia Dare’s Marketing & Consumer Insights Manager Philip Caputo said. “These flavors tell unique stories and take consumers on a journey.”
The company will also hand out handcrafted vanilla ice cream and bottled extract samples.
As part of its centennial, Virginia Dare will also launch a new website in July and host a ribbon-cutting at its new headquarters in Carteret, N.J., later this year.
“Our 100-year milestone is the perfect time to revitalize our physical and digital presence, celebrate with our long-standing customers and new prospects at this year’s trade shows, and look forward to the next 100 years of flavor innovation,” Smith said. “We encourage anyone looking to launch products that will be part of shaping the next generation of foods, beverages, and nutrition to visit our trade show booths and toast to both the past and the future.”
About Virginia Dare
For 100 years, Virginia Dare has worked with our partners to build products delivering preferred taste. Combining formulation expertise with substantial knowledge in sourcing and producing natural ingredients, Virginia Dare melds science, market insights, and sourcing to create business advantages for its partners. Virginia Dare’s combination of superior flavor platforms with focused industry expertise makes us the leading partner for attaining preferred taste with strategic business value.
