Sweets & Snacks Expo 2014 unveils this year’s Most Innovative New Product Awards
The Most Innovative New Products Awards last week at the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2014 involved new products deemed by a panel of experts as “most likely to succeed,” across nine candy and snack categories. Among the eight most innovative were M&M Mars, which took the Salty Snacks category for its new Salty & Sweet Snack Mix & Peanuts, which teams chocolate chips cookies with roasted peanuts and crunchy pretzels. Sweet & Spicy Nopalitos Dried Snacks, a spicy, dried cactus entry, received the award in the Savory Snacks category. Nutella & Go, from Ferrero, won in the Sweet Snacks category; it features breadsticks for dipping into Nutella chocolate spread. Ellia Kassoff, CEO of LEAF Brands, accepted the coveted Most Innovative Product Award for Novelty candy, after a rigorous contest featuring more than 250 different new products was unveiled at the show last Wednesday.
A total of 45 nominations were given to companies showcasing the most innovative ideas, concepts and products in the confectionery and snacks industry across nine categories. The categories ranged from chocolate, sweet and salty snacks, savory, novelty, seasonal and a new Best in Show Award, among others. The Best in Show winner represents the "People's Choice" as "best of the best" at the 2014 Expo. All attendees were also able to vote for the most innovative new product they found on the show floor.