NCA names 2018 Most Innovative New Product Award winners

Inaugural Ruby Award goes to Barry Callebaut for Ruby chocolate.

Hostess wins the 2018 Best in Show award for its Bakery Petites Double Chocolate Cake Delights. — Hostess won the 2018 Best in Show award for its Bakery Petites Double Chocolate Cake Delights.

Vosges Haut-Chocolat received the second Small Business Innovator Award for Hazelnut Cocoa Toast.

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the winners of the 2018 Most Innovative New Product Awards.

The winners, chosen from more than 300 entries, were announced at an awards ceremony at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, held May 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The awards are sponsored by IRI, a Chicago-based research firm. The company has long appreciated the role new product development plays in strengthening the category.

“Historically, innovation has driven about 7 percent of the growth in confections,” said Larry Levin, IRI’s executive v.p. of consumer and shopper marketing. “New products spark excitement for the consumer and generate more opportunities for treating.”

In addition to nine core categories judged in previous years, the NCA awarded Barry Callebaut the inaugural Ruby Award for Supplier Innovation for its development of Ruby chocolate, a rosy chocolate made from naturally pink cocoa beans.

Chicago-based Vosges Haut-Chocolat received the second Small Business Innovator Award for Wild Ophelia Hazelnut Cocoa Toast. This award recognizes companies with net sales under $500,000, giving them the opportunity to gain recognition among well-established peers.

This year's Best in Show award went to Hostess for Bakery Petites Double Chocolate Cake Delights, made with real chocolate and without high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors.

Product submissions for all categories were rated on four weighted criteria: taste, packaging, innovation and go-to-market feasibility.

Winners in the other categories include:

Chocolate
Hershey’s Gold Standard Bar
The Hershey Co.

Nominees:
Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. – Junior Mint Minis
Seattle Chocolate – Seattle Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Truffle Bar
R.M. Palmer Company – Football FANtasy
Tru Fru, LLC – Coconut Melts Freeze-Dried & Immersed in Dark Chocolate

Non-Chocolate
Big Chewy Nerds
Nestle USA/Ferrara Candy Co.

Nominees:
Ferrara Candy Co. – Sour Brite Sneaks
The Hershey Company – Jolly Rancher Misfits
Impact Confections, Inc. – HOTHEADS Scorching Heat Twists
Hammond’s Brands – Vanilla Caramel Marshmallow

Sweet Snacks
Organic White Chocolate Mini Peanut Butter Cups
Justin’s

Nominees:

That’s How We Roll – Cinnamon Crumb Cake Thins

Edward Marc Brands, Inc. – Cookie Butter Snappers

Vidal Candies USA, Inc. – Spicy Mangos

The Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc. – Superfruit Mix

Salty Snacks
Tangerine Vanilla Cashew Macadamia Glazed Mix
Sahale Snacks

Nominees:

From the Ground Up – Cauliflower Pretzel Sticks

Perfect Snax – Butterfinger

Made in Nature, LLC – Veggie Pops / Salt and Pepper

Rudolph Foods Co, Inc. – Oven Baked Pork Rinds/Blackberry Habanero

Savory Snacks
Trail Mix Crackers
Alli & Rose

Nominees:

Cheesewich Factory – Bacon and Eggs

Kellogg’s – Cheez-It Duoz Caramel Popcorn & Cheddar

Land O’Frost – High Protein Chips

Clever Cookie – Baked Cheddar Protein Crisps

Novelty/Licensed
Warheads Dippin’ Ring
Impact Confections

Nominees:

Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. – Frozen & Jurassic World Limited Editions

Bazooka Candy Brands, a Division of The Topps Company – Baby Bottle Popping Powder

PEZ Candy, Inc. – PEZ Jurassic World Click & Play Gift Tin

Jelly Belly Candy Co. – Jelly Belly Krispy Kreme Doughnut Tin

Seasonal
Ferrero Rocher Golden Heart for You and Me
Ferrero USA

Nominees:

Nestle USA – Big Chewy Nerds Reindeer Stocking Hanger

Jelly Belly Candy Co. – Jelly Belly Love Beans Valentine’s Gift Box

Mars Wrigley Confectionery US, LLC – Mars Wrigley Chocolate Variety mix party bowl

The Hershey Co. – Hershey’s Kisses Hot Cocoa

Gourmet
Parm Crisps Trios
That's How We Roll

Nominees:

Chuao Chocolatier – Ravishing Rocky Road Joy-Filled Caramels

KIWA – Native Andean Potato Chip Mix

Hammond’s Brands – Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Marshmallows

Mars Wrigley Confectionery US, LLC – Dove Chocolate Cashews dipped in milk chocolate

Gum & Mints
Cool Tropical Tic Tac Gum
Ferrero USA, Inc.

Nominees:

Perfetti Van Melle USA, Inc. – Mentos CleanBreath

Mars Wrigley Confectionery US, LLC – Juicy Fruit Gum Collisions Strawberry Watermelon

The Hershey Co. – Ice Breakers Deep Freeze Peppermint

Simply Gum – Cleanse / Grapefruit – Prickly Pear – Cayenne – Sea Salt

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Alyse Thompson-Richards has held many positions with BNP Media, first serving as an intern at Candy Industry magazine in summer 2012. She joined Candy Industry's staff full time as associate editor in August 2016 after a few years at newspapers in West-Central Illinois, becoming managing editor in March 2019. Alyse has also served as managing editor of Cannabis Products magazine since March 2019, and is currently the editor-in-chief of Food Engineeering magazine. She has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from Western Illinois University.