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Made to Taste:

Itaberco’s Custom Development

Off-the-shelf ingredients aren’t for everyone. If you’ve found your way here, you’re probably the kind of brand searching for something different - something original. At Itaberco, custom isn’t complicated - it’s an open door to creative freedom, Together with our custom partners, we bring bold ideas to life as products that customers remember - and return to again and again.

Custom isn’t just about ingredients - it’s about creativity, relationships, and unlocking what makes you unique.

Our U.S.A.-based food scientists make the process fast, accessible, and collaborative, so you can focus on your vision while we handle the technical expertise.

With taste-ready samples in weeks, low minimums, and no upfront investment, we remove the barriers that hold brands back. We believe that custom should be accessible. We can handle everything from signature flavors to refining texture and adapting for dietary needs. Together, we’ll turn it into a product your customers can’t find anywhere else.   

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What Is Custom Development?

At Itaberco, Custom Development is the art and science of creating dessert and beverage products that are distinctly yours instead of relying on off-the-shelf solutions.

Itaberco is a unique partner that does it all under one roof: collaborating with you on concept and formulation, then seamlessly handling production, packaging, and delivery in our SQF-certified U.S. facility.

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Unlike co-packing or toll manufacturing, custom development is about more than execution. Co-packers simply take a product you’ve already developed and package it at scale; there’s no creative input or problem-solving. Toll manufacturers go a step further by producing your existing formula, but the responsibility for recipe development, testing, and refinement still falls entirely on you. 

Itaberco offers the creativity of an R&D lab and the production capabilities of a manufacturer, all working as one team focused on your success.

Feature Custom Development with Itaberco Co-Packing Toll Manufacturing
Create New Formulations ✓  ✘  ✘
Refine Existing Formulations ✓  ✘  ✘
Full-Scale Production ✓ ✓ ✓
Packaging Options ✓ ✓ ✓
Innovation & R&D Support ✓  ✘  ✘
All Under One Roof ✓  ✘  ✘
White Glove Service ✓  ✘  ✘
Best For Brands seeking unique, proprietary products & full support Brands with finished recipes needing scale & packaging Brands with finished formulas needing only manufacturing

 

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Industry Shifts Behind the Customization Boom

A few key themes shaping the dessert and beverage industry are driving interest in custom products.

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Premium, Unique Flavors

Consumers are craving and expecting experiences now more so than ever. Limited-time offerings, signature flavors, and unexpected twists are becoming must-haves for brands that want to stand out.

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Clean-Label & Natural Colors

With increasing regulations around artificial dyes like Red 40 and growing consumer demand for recognizable ingredients, brands are seeking natural alternatives that don’t sacrifice vibrancy or taste.

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Dietary Demand

Plant-based, vegan, allergen-friendly, and organic options that were once niche are now mainstream expectations. Custom solutions help brands adapt quickly to this demand without compromising flavor or texture.

frozen-cocktail

Beverage Innovation

Coffee shops, breweries, and cocktail programs are fueling a wave of creativity. From proprietary syrups to custom mixers, unique beverage offerings have become essential to brand loyalty in this growing space.

Industry Shifts Behind the Customization Boom

A few key themes shaping the dessert and beverage industry are driving interest in custom products.

Premium, Unique Flavors

Consumers are craving and expecting experiences now more so than ever. Limited-time offerings, signature flavors, and unexpected twists are becoming must-haves for brands that want to stand out.

Clean-Label & Natural Colors

With increasing regulations around artificial dyes like Red 40 and growing consumer demand for recognizable ingredients, brands are seeking natural alternatives that don’t sacrifice vibrancy or taste.

Dietary Demand

Plant-based, vegan, allergen-friendly, and organic options that were once niche are now mainstream expectations. Custom solutions help brands adapt quickly to this demand without compromising flavor or texture.

Beverage Innovation

Coffee shops, breweries, and cocktail & mocktail programs are fueling a wave of creativity. From proprietary syrups to custom mixers, unique beverage offerings have become essential to brand loyalty in this growing space.

The Brands That Thrive Choosing Custom Solutions

Elevated brands like Restaurant Groups, Hotels Chains, Brewery and Coffehouse Brands, and Multi-Unit Operators recognize the importance of delivering experiences their customers can’t find anywhere else.

  • Restaurants
  • Patisseries
  • Bakeries
  • Frozen Dessert Shops
  • National & Boutique Hotels
  • Cruise Lines
  • Rooftop Bars
  • Breweries
  • Coffee Shops

What Itaberco Has Customized in the Past

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Flavor Compounds

Flavors are the heart of every dessert and beverage. With Itaberco, you’re not limited to our catalog—we’ve built a database of thousands of custom flavors for customers. From the delicate floral notes of elderflower to the warm spice of saffron, we can create, match, or even refine flavors you’ve experienced before. Each compound is crafted for your application, delivering standout aroma, taste, and mouthfeel.

premixes
Premixes

For many brands, consistency, texture, and efficiency are as important as flavor. Our custom premixes -frozen desserts, pastry bases, and beverages - offer “mise en place in a package,” letting you achieve scalable, reliable results with custom textures and performance tailored to your needs, from rich gelato and silky soft serve to pastry bases built to hold up in any kitchen.

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Toppings & Extras

Sometimes it’s the finishing touch that defines the experience. Our custom fruit fillings, glazes, and sauces go beyond flavor - they’re engineered for beauty and performance. Naturally colored, bake-stable, and built to hold their integrity in any application, each is crafted to match your vision - whether that’s a glossy swirl, a burst of real fruit, or a signature texture that’s unmistakably yours.

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Beverage Solutions

The beverage world is evolving fast, with new flavor combinations and innovative presentations shaping consumer expectations. Visual appeal, vibrant color, and thoughtful details are more important than ever. We help cafés craft signature flavors, breweries explore complex fruit infusions, and hospitality groups design distinctive cocktail and mocktail mixers. With our custom syrups, flavor bases, and frozen drink mixes, ordinary beverages become remarkable creations

Custom Development Services

blood-orange-beer
Beverage Solutions

The beverage world is evolving fast, with new flavor combinations and innovative presentations shaping consumer expectations. Visual appeal, vibrant color, and thoughtful details are more important than ever. We help cafés craft signature flavors, breweries explore complex fruit infusions, and hospitality groups design distinctive cocktail and mocktail mixers. With our custom syrups, flavor bases, and frozen drink mixes, ordinary beverages become remarkable creations

dietary-solutions
Dietary Solutions

Consumer demand for dietary alternatives continues to grow, and brands that adapt quickly can capture loyalty without sacrificing quality. We create vegan frozen desserts that mimic the indulgent creaminess of dairy, allergen-friendly bakery mixes that deliver on taste and texture, and organic or kosher-certified products that meet clean-label expectations - each built to maintain the sensory experience your customers love while meeting their dietary choices.

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Texture Adjustments

Flavor may be what draws customers in, but texture is what makes them fall in love. We refine the mouthfeel of your product until it’s exactly right. That could mean developing a frozen yogurt that holds a swirl without collapsing, adjusting a cake mix to bake lighter and fluffier, or formulating a frozen dessert that scoops effortlessly even at colder temperatures. Whatever the application, our expertise ensures that your product not only tastes great but also performs beautifully in every serving.

custom-packaging
Private Label Packaging

Think of private labeling as your shortcut to signature products. We transform our flavorings, premixes, sauces, and toppings into ready-to-brand creations with custom packaging and formats designed for impact. Trusted by many brands you see every day, our solutions make your products uniquely yours—operationally seamless, visually memorable, and instantly recognizable.

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The Itaberco Difference

Unlike most suppliers, we don’t just complete orders; we build custom solutions with you. You get the imagination of a creative partner and the reliability of a manufacturer, combined in one place and designed to fit your budget.

Here’s how easy it is to go custom with Itaberco:
Fast Timelines

Timing is crucial in the dessert and beverage industry. Seasonal menus, limited-time promotions, or new store openings can’t wait months for custom development. That’s why we deliver taste-ready samples in just weeks and move into full production in about 20 business days. You can stay ahead of trends, respond to customer demand, and bring bold ideas to market while they’re still fresh.

Low Minimums, No Upfront Costs

Custom development is often seen as something only massive brands can afford. We’re changing the custom narrative from luxury to accessibility. With low minimum order quantities and no high upfront investment, you can explore custom products without taking on big risks. Whether you’re testing a new flavor for one location or preparing for a regional rollout, we make it easy to start small and scale when you’re ready.

Certifications & Quality You Can Trust

Every product is produced in our SQF-certified, U.S.-based facility, which means your custom solution is crafted to the highest standards of food safety and quality. For you, that means consistent results, reliable supply, and the confidence that your brand’s reputation is in good hands.

A True Collaborative Partnership

At Itaberco, you’re not just another order on a production line. You’ll work directly with our experienced food scientists who take the time to understand your goals, translate your vision into formulas, and refine every detail until it’s exactly right. That collaboration ensures your product is not only technically sound, but also creatively true to your brand.

Inspiration: Examples of Custom Development in Action

We’ve collaborated with everyone from restaurant groups to regional chains and multi-unit operators. Each partnership is different, but the goal is always the same: to create something exclusive that elevates the brand. Here are a few ways custom development takes shape:

flavor-innovation

Quick Turnaround:

Limited-Time & Seasonal Flavors

Seasonal products create buzz, drive traffic, and give customers a reason to return all year round. With custom development, these limited-time offerings can be as creative and memorable as you imagine. Picture a summer-only blackberry lavender soft serve that highlights local produce or a fall-inspired chai spiced custard. From vibrant color transitions to unexpected flavor twists, we help you bring seasonal visions to life - fast, precise, and exactly how you imagined.

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Performance:

Scaling Signature Recipes

When a recipe works in one kitchen, scaling it across multiple locations is often a challenge. Ingredients, processes, and consistency can all vary. We help brands translate beloved recipes into custom mixes or compounds that maintain the flavor and texture customers expect. That way, your signature item tastes the same in every store, every time.

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Beverage Innovation:

Signature Coffeehouse Syrup

Commodity syrups don’t set your menu apart. By crafting proprietary syrups, cafés and coffeehouses can transform their drinks into signature experiences. For example, a vanilla syrup can become layered with hints of caramel and honey, creating a richer latte that customers immediately associate with your shop. That single, simple swap can build loyalty and brand recognition in a highly competitive market.

red-40-alternatives

Color Solutions:

From Red 40 to Natural Reds

Although the industry is moving away from artificial dyes like Red 40, color is still critical to both taste perception and presentation. We help brands transition to natural alternatives that offer vibrant hues while enhancing the flavor profile with fruit juices and natural solutions. This allows you to meet clean-label expectations without sacrificing the visual impact that makes desserts and beverages so appealing.

carrot-cake-Dietary-Adaptation

Dietary Adaptation:

A Vegan Twist

We develop custom vegan or allergen-friendly alternatives that don’t compromise on indulgence. A dairy-free custard, for example, can maintain the creamy texture of its traditional counterpart, while a vegan frozen dessert base can deliver the same scoopable, satisfying experience customers crave. These solutions open doors to entirely new customer groups while keeping your menu inclusive.

signature-dessert

Flavor Innovation:

Signature Dessert

Signature flavors are what transform menus into popular destinations. Frozen dessert shops may want to create a swirl of toasted marshmallow with caramelized sugar undertones or develop a tropical flavor that blends coconut cream with fresh lime zest. These flavors are built specifically for your brand, ensuring no one else can copy them.

Let’s Make Your Signature Product Together

The idea that’s been stuck in your notebook, the flavor your customers keep asking for, the recipe that’s almost there but not quite right…it doesn’t have to stay a dream. You’ve imagined it, and now it’s time to bring it to life!

Choosing Itaberco means you’ll have a partner who’s as invested in your success as you are. Feel the difference from your very first conversation with our R&D team. We’ll guide you through each step, make the process simple, and deliver a product that fulfills your brand’s signature.