PMCA releases 2026 conference program, speaker lineup
The expo will explore natural colors, flavor innovation, and more.
Courtesy of PMCA
The Professional Manufacturing Confectioners Association (PMCA) 2026 conference, which will take place April 14-15 at the Lancaster County Convention Center, PA, has debuted its program and slate of speakers for this year's iteration.
The educational lineup includes a Technology Tuesday session, the Learn | Connect | Grow Expo, Wednesday morning session, and Wednesday afternoon breakout sessions. The conference will also offer "culinary delights, cocktails, and connections" for its social opportunities.
More about the lineup:
- The Technology Tuesday program (Tues. April 14, starting at 8:25 am) will take attendees on a deeper dive into important technologies in the confectionery and snack industry. This half-day seminar will feature presentations from experienced industry professionals accompanied by live demonstrations and audience tasting samples.
- This year's sessions include a seminar on natural colors across applications, with focuses on gummies and hard candies, fat-based confections, panning, and troubleshooting (common failure modes and strategies for natural colors across a range of confectionery applications).
- The Learn | Connect | Grow Expo will be open April 14, 12:30-5 pm at Freedom Hall, and expo-only passes may be picked up in Freedom Hall starting at 12:30 pm. A hosted lunch will take place 12:30-2 pm, as well.
- On Wednesday, April 15, the morning will kick off with a session on "Flavor Innovation in the Age of AI: Predicting the Next Candy Craze" (8:25 am), presented by personnel from Hershey and data and analytics company Blend360.
- Other sessions that day include "Creating Different Textures Using a Hard-Boiled Candy Line & Soft Panning" (9:10 am, with candymaker OV Sweden's R&D manager), "May the Cocoa Be with You — Preserving the Essence of Chocolate Amidst Rising Costs (10:10 am, with an R&D scientist - innovation from Blommer), and Protein Incorporation into Confections & Snacks (10:55 am, with ingredients innovator The Protein Brewery's director of new business development).
See the full schedule here.
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