Preview: Sweets and Snacks Expo! 3 Trends You Need to Follow
The American (and World’s) candy and snacking industry’s eyes are set on Chicago this week as the 2018 Sweets and Snacks heads into town.
This year’s edition is poised to be the best on record as the show sold out in record time with potential exhibitors placed on waiting lists. In total, it’s expected to attract over 18,000 visitors from over 90 countries. According to the National Confectioners Association, over 2,000 new products will debut at the event.
This year’s edition is poised to be the best on record as the show sold out in record time with potential exhibitors placed on waiting lists. In total, it’s expected to attract over 18,000 visitors from over 90 countries. According to the National Confectioners Association, over 2,000 new products will debut at the event.
What Makes the Event So Popular?
According to Barry Rosenbaum, Sweets & Snacks Expo chair and president of Nassau Candy Distributors. “Manufacturers exhibit because they want their product seen by 90 percent of the candy buying market and 75 percent of the snack buying market.”
3 Trends You Need to Watch
Texturised Sensations
Texturised chewing gum.
Mondelez International will showcase its new Trident Vibes gum product. Available in three flavours including Spearmint Rush, Ooh La Lemon, and Tropical Beat, the product combines the crunch of a candy with its crisp outer coating, while a wave of flavour via “pops” of flavour beads throughout give the user a texturised sensation.
Sweet Heat 2.0
Sweet heat chocolate with chilli.
Last year we saw Skittle’s go viral with its Sweet Heat product. While the combination of chilli and chocolate isn’t a new concept, we see some companies bring it back in a more premium fashion like this Dark Chocolate with Chili & Toffee Pieces Topped Bar by Divine Chocolates. We’re excited to see what other sweet and spicy creations we discover.
Get Your Veggies While You Snack
Pickled snap peas.
Going through the list of new entries, we kept running into vegetables. Either incorporated into chips or bars or even freeze dried. This product from GLK Foods combines pickled, crunchy snap peas with the heat and spice of jalapeños for a unique snacking product. Another product incorporating a heat element that consumers crave.
The Sweets and Snacks Expo starts this Tuesday, May 22nd at Chicago’s McCormick Center. Follow our social links for live coverage of the event.
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