15: Sweets & Snacks Expo 2015

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!

Music: Royalty Free Music from Bensound