<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our President &amp; Co-Founder</span> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ames-4385bb7/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">David Ames</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> recently sat down with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ray Latif</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">BevNET.com </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">to chat a</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">bout how we&#8217;re fueling innovation in the food and beverage industry. David shares his insights from over 30 years in the flavor industry, emphasizing the importance of serving entrepreneurs and offering tailored solutions, regardless of business size. With a commitment to delivering fast, high-quality flavors, Sovereign Flavors has become a go-to for companies of all scales, providing custom formulations and industry expertise.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether it’s a large multinational company or a small startup, our team is dedicated to helping brands bring their products to market quickly and efficiently! Check out the interview here:</span></p>


Interview: Scaling with Sovereign Flavors

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The global cocoa bean shortage has created significant challenges for chocolate production worldwide. This shortage is the result of several factors, including extreme weather conditions in key cocoa-growing regions, shrinking farmland dedicated to cocoa cultivation, and political instability in major harvest countries. As a result, inventories from chocolate manufacturers to end consumers are tightening, while costs continue to rise. The chocolate industry is facing critical supply chain issues, longer lead times, and the potential for even higher prices in the future.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In response, companies are seeking innovative ways to navigate these obstacles and maintain their production levels.</span></p>


<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sovereign Flavors is here to help mitigate these challenges. We offer a range of solutions, including flavors that can extend your current chocolate inventory and provide cost-saving alternatives. Our diverse portfolio of chocolate flavors—including dark, milk, and bittersweet varieties—as well as flavor modulators for fat, mouthfeel, and sweetness, are readily available to support your needs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We also collaborate closely with our customers to meet specific flavor profiles, even re-engineering custom profiles to fit unique requirements. Our application team is ready to assist, offering expertise in developing and testing reformulated products using our flavors, ensuring that your products meet the highest standards despite the cocoa shortage.</span></p>


<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether the cocoa shortage is temporary or long-lasting, Sovereign Flavors is committed to helping our customers overcome these challenges. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you have the tools and support needed to thrive during this time. Let Sovereign Flavors be your trusted partner in navigating this evolving landscape.</span></p>


Addressing the Global Chocolate Shortage: Solutions from Sovereign Flavors

<p class="p1">KYLE, TEXAS – The City of Kyle Economic Development and Sovereign Flavors are excited to announce the grand opening of their brand-new manufacturing facility at 341 Plum Creek Meadows in Kyle, TX.</p>
<p class="p1">Opening a second location in Kyle, TX, strategically positioned along the I-35 corridor, is the next step in Sovereign Flavors journey of innovation and excellence for a business that has been in operation since 2003.</p>
<p class="p1">“We are thrilled to be opening in the great state of Texas – the epicenter of craft food and beverage innovation,” said David Ames, President &amp; CEO of Sovereign Flavors. “This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sovereign Flavors, and we remain steadfast in our mission to empower our employees to deliver unparalleled quality and service to our valued customers.”</p>
<p class="p1">“In Kyle, we’re all about setting standards and leading by example,” said Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell. “Sovereign Flavors, their staff, and their new facility, that is situated in a prime development location, fits that mold and vision. We’re happy to welcome Sovereign Flavors to town and look forward to our continued partnership.”</p>
<p class="p1">In March of 2022, Sovereign Flavors announced they were expanding their footprint to the Lone Star State. Just two years later, nearly to the day, they have opened the doors of their 40,000-square-foot facility that will house production, quality assurance, and sales to better serve customers in the southeast region of the United States.</p>
<p class="p1">“Sovereign Flavors joins several other businesses in Kyle’s Plum Creek Employment District along FM 1626, adding quality jobs for our community and further expanding our growing food and product development industry,” said Victoria Vargas, City of Kyle Director of Economic Development.</p>


<p>Sovereign Flavors held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 4 attended by city officials, local business owners, members of the KDW team (the design and construction firm responsible for the new building), food and beverage industry professionals, as well as employees from Sovereign Flavors.</p>


It’s Official! Sovereign Flavors is now open in Texas!

<p>On February 10, 2024, we hosted a charity event at our headquarters in Santa Ana, and what an incredible night it was! With the generous support of our customers, suppliers, and dedicated team, we came together to make a significant impact for a cause close to our hearts: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.</p>
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<h5>Exceeding Expectations</h5>
<p>Last year, we raised over $7,500 for St. Jude. This year, fueled by our passion and determination, we set our sights higher with a goal of $10,000. Little did we know, our Sovereign Flavors community would rally behind us in such a remarkable way. Together, we shattered our goal and raised an astounding $25,000!</p>
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<h5>A Night to Remember</h5>
<p>The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and meaningful moments. Attendees enjoyed a beautifully catered buffet dinner, passed appetizers, and signature cocktails including the classic Old Fashioned and refreshing Grapefruit Paloma. The highlight of the night was the mesmerizing performance by talented saxophonist Ronald Goodman, who captivated the crowd with his soulful tunes. And to our surprise and delight, our very own flavor technologist Paul Johnston, joined him with his own soprano saxophone, adding to the magic of the evening.</p>
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<h5>Making an Impact</h5>
<p>The success of the event wasn’t just measured in dollars raised, but in the positive impact it will have on the children and families supported by St. Jude. The funds raised were promptly sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and their heartfelt gratitude for the generous donation only reaffirmed the importance of our cause.</p>
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<h5>Gratitude and Future Endeavors</h5>
<p>We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Whether you donated, attended, or supported us in any way, your generosity and commitment to making a difference are truly commendable. Your overwhelming support has inspired us to continue making this event bigger and better each year.</p>
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<h5>Looking Ahead</h5>
<p>With the overwhelming success of this year’s event, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be hosting another charity event next year. Stay tuned for more details, as we’re excited to continue our journey of making a difference and supporting the incredible work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.</p>
<p>Thank you again to everyone who helped make this event a success. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of children in need.</p>
<p>With love,</p>
<p>The Sovereign Flavors Team</p>


Sovereign Flavors’ Second Annual Charity Gala

<p>Are you ready to elevate your cocktail game and capitalize on the hottest trend in the beverage industry? The Aperol Spritz has taken the world by storm, and with limited Prosecco availability in the next twelve months, having the right options at hand is crucial. Fortunately, Sovereign Flavors has the solution you’ve been searching for – our Natural Prosecco Flavor.</p>
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<h5><b>The Aperol Spritz Phenomenon</b></h5>
<p>The Aperol Spritz, with its vibrant orange hue and refreshing taste, has become the go-to cocktail for those seeking a taste of Italian summer. As the sun sets on warm evenings, this iconic drink graces tables around the world, transporting drinkers to the picturesque piazzas of Italy. But there’s a challenge on the horizon – a looming shortage of Prosecco.</p>
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<h5><b>The Prosecco Shortage Crisis</b></h5>
<p>A perfect storm of unpredictable weather conditions and issues with labor have created what’s been called an “annus horribilis” for the Prosecco industry. A combination of heatwaves and floods across Italy has resulted in a challenging harvest for the Consorzio di Tutela del Prosecco DOC, which normally produces 130 million bottles for the UK market alone.</p>
<p>Even for the grapes that do survive, there are concerns they won’t be picked in time, as manual workers in Italy are opting for other types of labor, such as construction or logistics. This shortage of skilled labor is affecting vineyards like La Farra in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG.</p>
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<h5><b>Sovereign Flavors’ Natural Prosecco Flavor: The Solution</b></h5>
<p>During this challenging season for Prosecco, we understand the difficulties that beverage developers may encounter – and we want to be there to support you. Our Natural Prosecco Flavor isn’t just a solution; it’s an extraordinary embodiment of the very essence of Prosecco with outstanding quality and an authentic touch.</p>
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<h5><b>Join the Prosecco Revolution</b></h5>
<p>As the Aperol Spritz trend continues to rise, make sure you’re ahead of the curve. Ensure that your customers have access to the flavors they love, even in times of Prosecco scarcity. Choose Sovereign Flavors’ Natural Prosecco Flavor and be a part of the Prosecco revolution.</p>
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<h5><b>Why Choose Our Natural Prosecco Flavor</b></h5>
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<li aria-level="1"><b>Exceptional Quality</b>: We’ve perfected the art of capturing the effervescence and delicate notes that Prosecco is known for.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>Versatile</b>: Our flavor is incredibly versatile, making it perfect for crafting Aperol Spritz cocktails that taste just like the real thing. It’s also great for adding a Prosecco twist to other beverages and culinary creations.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><b>No Prosecco Shortage Worries</b>: With our Natural Prosecco Flavor in your formulation, you can continue to serve delightful Aperol Spritz cocktails without worrying about Prosecco availability.</li>
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<h5><strong>Contact Us!</strong></h5>
<p>Ready to explore the possibilities of our Natural Prosecco Flavor? <a href="https://www.sovereignflavors.com/contact/"><strong>Contact us</strong></a> today to learn more about our flavor solutions and how we can help you meet your customers’ demands. Don’t let the Prosecco shortage dampen your spirits – choose Sovereign Flavors and keep the bubbles flowing!</p>


Solving the Prosecco Shortage: Our Natural Flavor Solution

<p>One of the many things that Sovereign Flavors can be proud of is achieving and maintaining a BRC Certification. As the world becomes more food safety and food quality conscious, it is becoming an industry standard for vendors to carry a third-party GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certification, and BRC (British Retail Consortium) qualifies as such.</p>
<p>Maintaining this certification requires that we are audited annually, and this year, we completed our BRC audit on July 13 and 14. The auditor reviewed our food safety and quality programs and thoroughly examined our plant. A handful of employees in the Production, Warehouse, and Quality departments were also interviewed to ensure that we are in compliance with these policies.</p>
<p>Another crucial part of the audit is the Traceability Test. The purpose of this exercise is to test the efficacy of our Quality Systems and Traceability program so that in the event of a real food safety recall, we can identify how much of an ingredient was purchased, which products it was used in, and which customers received the affected products. With the help of the Quality, Purchasing, and Accounting departments, we successfully performed 3 traceability exercises.</p>
<p>To add to the challenge, our auditor also had an auditor auditing how our auditor audits (try saying that 3 times fast!), which meant an extra set of eyes poring over our programs and facility. At the end of our analysis, our auditor had nothing but praise for our team and was very impressed with how knowledgeable and conscientious our team is.</p>
<p>Although this audit was only 20 hours long over the course of two days, our team spent months preparing for it. <strong>We are proud to announce this is our 5th year successfully passing this audit while also maintaining a double A (AA) rating – the highest rating achievable</strong>. A huge thank you to the many departments and team members for all their hard work in helping Sovereign Flavors achieve this milestone. We look forward to doing this again next year and continuing to pass along the highest level of excellence to our customers!</p>


Interview: Scaling with Sovereign Flavors

Check Out Our Other Posts

Addressing the Global Chocolate Shortage: Solutions from Sovereign Flavors

It’s Official! Sovereign Flavors is now open in Texas!

Sovereign Flavors’ Second Annual Charity Gala