The 2018 Sweets & Snacks Expo focuses on innovation and growth

Hosted by the National Confectioners Association, the Sweets & Snacks Expo will take place from May 22–24 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event welcomes more than 18,000 attendees from 90 countries and include more than 850 exhibitors.

Confectionery and snacks from more than 25 different countries will be on display—the largest number of countries ever to showcase products at the show. The expo will include seven international pavilions, with Belarus making its debut. Returning international pavilions include Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Mexico and Turkey.

Innovation Avenue, located at the front of the Skyline Hall, displays products from companies who are just launching their confectionery and snack businesses. Also, the New Product Showcase offers a sneak peek at more than 350 new candy, snack and packaging innovations.

Winners of the Most Innovative New Product Awards, including categories for seasonal products, salty snacks, sweet snacks and savory snacks, will be unveiled in special ceremony in the Discovery Theater in Skyline Hall on the morning of Tuesday, May 22.

Educational tracks are grouped around the themes of How We Shop, How We Eat and How We Work, exploring consumer behaviors and trends in treating and snacking.

On Tuesday, May 22, Sally Lyons Wyatt, executive vice president and practice leader, IRI, will lead a session on “2018 State of the Market: Candy and Snack.”

Later that morning, Jared Koerten, senior analyst, Euromonitor, will discuss “On-the-Go Snacking: Omnichannel Implications for In-Store Shopping.”

On Wednesday, May 23, Joel Warady, CMO, Enjoy Life Foods, will present a session on “Applying Influencers & Community to Drive Retail Sales.” Enjoy Life Foods was the recipient of the 2017 Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery “Bakery of the Year” award.

Many other educational opportunities will focus on snack trends and business strategies, including: