The National Confectioners Association’s 2016 Sweets & Snack Expo took place May 24 through May 26 in Chicago. The convention floor covered over 4 acres and brought together 720 confectionery and snack exhibitors and 16,000 attendees from 90 different countries. A world class event, the Expo is a showcase for the latest innovations in confections and snacks — from packaging to new product launches. In addition to big multinational brands and regional favorites, exhibitors at the Expo included a small group of first-timers displaying their products on Innovation Avenue.

We covered it all to bring you the sweet scoop! We tried so many great products and met a lot of very nice candymakers. We’ve got some great in-depth interviews and reviews to share with you but, for now, here’s our wrap on the new products and trends at the Expo.

At this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, we noticed several trends in confectionery

“Free-From” and Organic Candy: People are increasingly making the conscious choice to select sweets made with natural ingredients or that are free from the major eight food allergens. As this trend has developed, we’ve found that many of the health-friendly candies now taste better than almost anything else out there. Don’t believe us? Try any Torie & Howard hard candy or fruit chew.

On-the-Go Consumption and Bite-Size: Putting downsized product in a resealable bag has proven to be a winning combination. Resealable stand-up bags make it easier to control portion size and take the product with you. Bite-size makes it easy to eat only what you want, and to share, without worrying about what to do with a half-eaten candy bar.

Chewy Candy: According the the National Confectioners Association, the chewy candy sector is the biggest seller in the non-chocolate category, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Fruity flavors are still tops but extremely sour candies have become incredibly popular.

Barks and Thins: This category is also known as snacking chocolates. These products feature inclusions like nuts, seeds, pretzels, and fruit. Offered as healthier-for-you premium snacks, these treats let you indulge without feeling guilty.

The 2016 Most Innovative Product Awards were announced

Best in Show went to the Hershey Co.’s Reese’s Stuffed with Pieces. Not in stores until this summer, this confection is just what it sounds like: a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with Reese’s Pieces in the peanut butter.

The other category winners for 2016 are:

Chocolate: Ferrero Grand Rocher
Non-Chocolate: Starburst Gummies Originals
Seasonal: Turtle Eggs by DeMet’s Candy Co.
Novelty/Licensed: Dippin’ Dots Redberry Sherbet with Sour Patch Kids
Gourmet/Premium: Organic Jelly Beans by Jelly Belly Candy Co.
Gum & Mints: Bazooka Sugar-Free to Go Cup

The new products that have us most excited

We are seriously into candy. Not just artisanal or hard-to-get candy or, even, candy made to appeal to adults. We like it colorful and exciting, chocolatey and traditional. No judgments, no snobbery. We picked up a lot of samples from different manufacturers, and here are some of the new products unveiled by the big candy companies that have our interest:

Hot Tamales Licorice Bites by Just Born: Hot Tamales are an all-time American favorite. Licorice is an all-time Candy Atlas favorite. We are pretty hot for the combination of spicy cinnamon and soft licorice in one chewy candy. The consistency and mouthfeel of this product are more like Twizzlers than Red Vines.

Peeps Delights by Just Born: For Easter 2017, Just Born is expanding its Peeps Delights line by adding Coconut Peeps dipped in dark chocolate and Blueberry Peeps dipped in dark chocolate. We just love Peeps and their previous Delights products, the Lemon dipped in lemon fudge, in particular, have really been a hit with us. We didn’t have the opportunity to try these new flavors, but we will be looking for them next spring!

Dulces Locos Caramelos Blandos, Horchata Flavor by Lucky Country: Translated to English, the name for this product is Crazy Sweets Soft Candy. We have a sample of the horchata flavor. This soft licorice-style confection is a take on the Mexican style horchata drink, which is made from rice, vanilla, and cinnamon. This product piqued our curiosity because it uses a traditional Mexican flavor and puts it in a new form. Also, here in the U.S., it is sometimes difficult to get different varieties of Mexican candy that meet the FDA standards; so it’s nice that this product is made in North Carolina.

Limited Edition Lindor Pumpkin Spice Milk Chocolate Truffles by Lindt: If you’re like us, you get excited when the air gets crisp because you know it’s time to feed your pumpkin obsession. Just in time for the fall holidays, Lindt will be introducing pumpkin truffles. These limited edition truffles have the classic milk chocolate shell with an extra smooth center but the twist is Lindt has added just the right amount of pumpkin spice to the mix to make this the perfect decadent treat for fall.

Fini USA Everyday Range: Fini Golosinas, the largest manufacturer and distributor of sugar confectionery in Spain, is rolling out its new range of products specifically designed for the American market. The Everyday Range is all about fun and color and it tastes great, too! We love their spin on marshmallow treats with the Crunchy Marshmallow Rainbow Fizz with a sweet, soft marshmallow in a crunchy, fizzy coating. The Mini Kollisions is a hit, too, with a mix of sweet and sour licorice in an assortment of shapes and textures. We also fell for their chewy Very Berry Tornadoes and Sour Tornadoes that blend six distinct flavors into one bite. Definitely for kids, but ideal for adults who want candy with no pretenses about what it is.

That’s our wrap-up on the new products and trends at the 2016 Sweets & Snacks Expo. We’ll be back soon with conversations with some of your favorite candymakers and behind-the-scenes looks at old favorites and new classics.

Share: