CHICAGO – The National Confectioners Association (NCA) Sweets & Snacks Expo celebrated its 25 years at the end of May, as this sweet event returned to McCormick Place in Chicago after a two-year hiatus.
This year’s trade show welcomed 700 exhibitors and 16,000 attendees, which was almost back to 2019 event attendance levels. The trade show spanned nearly 4.5 acres of candy and snack innovation and injected approximately $21 million into the local economy.
“There’s no better way to celebrate this milestone anniversary for the Sweets & Snacks Expo than in Chicago with the full industry on display,” John Downs, President and CEO of the National Confectioners Association, said. “Throughout its history, the show has served as a launchpad for new products and companies and brought new ideas to the forefront of the candy and snack industries. I am proud of the work we have done to make the Sweets & Snacks Expo the premier trade show for the candy and snack industries, and I can’t wait to see what the next 25 years of innovation looks like from these dynamic and resilient categories.”
The 2022 Sweets and Snacks Expo revealed this year’s latest candy and snack product innovations. Trends included everything s’mores flavored to “newstalgic” twists on beloved classics. With extreme sweets and sours taking center stage, intense flavors in various package sizes and product types also made waves at the Expo.
Featuring business-building solutions and merchandising innovations, the annual trade show brings together qualified candy and snack retail professionals and company representatives who showcase the latest in candy and snack products. Hundreds of the world’s leading candymakers debut new products at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which also features the latest innovation in chips, nuts, sweet snacks, jerky, pretzels and more.
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Sweets & Snacks Expo to Move to Indianapolis and Las Vegas
On the Move
This important trade show leaves Chicago, its home for the past 25 years, after the 2023 show as it heads for Indianapolis and Las Vegas. The show will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis in May 2024 and 2025, followed by one year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This event location rotation will continue until 2032.
Reach John Downs at president@candyusa.com
