Here's what Associate Editor Alyse Thompson is looking forward to in the confectionery industry this year.

Flavor Producers, LLC has acquired Flavormatic Industries, Inc. of Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 

Waukegan, Ill.-based Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has rolled out a new line of organic extracts and two no-sugar-added vanillas.

Wauconda, Ill.-based Synergy Flavors, Inc. has acquired Janoušek, one of the world’s first suppliers of herbal extracts and natural flavoring and an expert in Italian flavor profiles.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. will acquire Israel-based flavor firm Frutarom for $7.1 billion. The cash and stock transaction — unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors — also includes Frutarom’s net debt.

It's a wild, wonderful and at times wacky world of flavor fusion, alternative sweetening and exotic experimentation for confectioners and flavor technologists.