The 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo has been scheduled for June 22-25 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) announced Tuesday.

In a letter to members, NCA President and CEO John Downs said that while the association has been monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, discussions with Sweets & Snacks Expo attendees and exhibitors have indicated a strong preference for an in-person event. 

“NCA and the Sweets & Snacks Expo team have taken every effort to balance the need to protect the safety and welfare of our exhibitors, attendees and vendors with the desire to conduct in-person business, networking and learning,” Downs wrote. “COVID-19 has changed much about how our industry operates, but it hasn’t changed the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s unmatched ability to bring new products, opportunities and insights to the confectionery and snack industries.”

Exhibit space
Every exhibitor that rolled over all or a portion of their 2020 booth fees will be contacted to choose exhibit space during an online exhibit space selection to be held the week of Nov. 30. The order in which exhibitors select their exhibit space during this process will be based on priority points. 

The NCA will contact exhibitors via email and telephone before the space selection to explain how it will work. Please note that in order to participate in this space selection process exhibitors must complete the online 2021 Exhibit Space Rental Agreement in the Exhibitor Dashboard. 

Event schedule
The show will kick off on Tuesday, June 22, with the new Supplier Showcase, as well as an evening Most Innovative New Product Awards reception with keynote speaker. The show floor of exhibits will be open Wednesday, June 23 – Friday, June 25.

Safety
Sweets & Snacks Expo management will follow the COVID-19 preparedness and safety guidelines developed by the Indiana Convention Center, the city of Indianapolis and public health authorities as they evolve. A list of safeguards is available on the show website.

A set of frequently asked questions covering more topics is also available on the Sweets & Snacks Expo website.  

“In this rapidly changing environment, we have all learned that it is critical to remain flexible and stay connected,” Downs wrote. “NCA is committed to transparency in our communication and to providing an exceptional show experience with top-notch customer service for the candy and snack industries as we adapt to remarkable changes in our marketplace and the world.”