In this episode, we talk about the interesting products and trends from this year's Sweet & Snacks Expo.
Show notes are available below or at www.candyology101.com/15/.
What We're Sweet On (starts at 0:19)
Maria: York Peppermint Patties
Cybele: Good & Plenty
Sweets & Snack Expo Intro (starting at 2:07)
It’s sponsored by the National Confectioners Association and is the largest candy trade show in the U.S.
• 650 exhibitors, most featuring candy, but also some snacks and drinks
• 16,000 people will visit the show over three days
• Attendees are buyers for retail stores, chains, wholesalers, exporters and brokers
New Products Awards (starting at 3:07)
The Best in Show was presented to Ferrero USA, Inc., for its Tic Tac Minions.
Category winners are:
• Chocolate: Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Peanuts; Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc.
• Non-Chocolate: Pancakes & Maple Syrup Jelly Beans; Jelly Belly Candy Co.
• Seasonal: Roca Thins Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark; Brown & Haley
• Novelty/Licensed: BeanBoozled Mystery Bean Dispenser; Jelly Belly Candy Co.
• Gum & Mints: Project 7 Grapefruit Melon Gourmet Gum; Project 7 Inc.
Products We're Excited About from the Expo (starting at 11:16)
Belgian Boys Cone Bite
Charms Sweet & Sour Lollipops
Theo Coconut Bites - Coconut Salted Almond Dark Chocolate
Swedish Fish Layered Gum
Tic Tac Minions
Mars Goodness Knows Squares
Fun Sweets Cotton Candy - Pink Lemonade
Disappointing Product Announcements (starting at 24:33)
Skittles & Starburst
Hawaiian Punch Chews
Fudge o Bits
Better Ingredients Trend (starting at 28:21)
Theo Chocolates: Kids’ Crunch Bars & Theo Chocolates Coconut Bites
Torie & Howard: Chewie Fruities
YumEarth Soft-Eating Gluten-Free Licorice
Hawaiian Host, Inc: Tropical Fruit Bites
The Lovely Candy Co.: Gluten-free licorice
Layering or Combo Flavors Trend (starting at 40:23)
Trident Swedish Fish Layered Gum
Tootsie Pop - fruity lollipops
Tootsie Sweet and Sour Pops
Charms Sweet & Sour Pops
Tic Tac Mixers
Mentos NOW Mints
General Trends (starting at 44:39)
Mixed Berries (including using real dried fruits)
Crisps – barks and disks of chocolate
Cake Flavors – birthday cake, brownies & red velvet are still popping into different candies
Morselization – biggest category gains (successes) were for Snickers Bites, KitKat Minis and Jolly Rancher Filled Gummi Bites
Thanks for listening!
