2015 Sweets Snacks Expo Highlights Innovation And Creativity Among New Product Launches

PRESS RELEASE

CHICAGO--June 11, 2015 --During the 2015 Sweets & Snacks Expo, held in Chicago, IL, the National Confectioners Association bestowed 45 Most Innovative New Product Award nominations on companies showcasing imaginative ideas, concepts and products in two of the fastest-growing categories in the marketplace: confectionery and snacks. Retail and wholesale trade customers then electronically selected one winner in each of the nine categories that comprise the $90 billion U.S. sweets and snacks industry.

"The Expo's new product awards program showcases the best our industry has to offer in terms of creativity and innovation," said NCA president and chief executive John H. Downs, Jr. "From large, multinational brands to small, family-owned companies, innovation is the heart of our business and it's on display each year at the Sweets & Snacks Expo."

Lead by supermarket guru and food marketing authority Phil Lempert, a panel of specialists including a registered supermarket dietician, top U.S. retailers and trend experts collaborated and taste-tested nearly 300 product submissions. Panel participants included Maribel Alchin, dietician and healthy living advisor from the supermarket chain Meijer, and Larry Levin, executive vice president of IRI, as well as executives from some of the top retailers of candy and snack products in the U.S. including:

» CVS Health
» Dollar General
» Eby-Brown Co.
» First Source
» H-E-B
» Hy-Vee
» Hudson News
» Ke-HE Distributors
» IT'Sugar
» The McLane Co.
» Meijer Inc.
» RaceTrac
» Walgreens
» Walmart

"The panelists overwhelmingly agreed that the submissions this year were some of the most competitive and innovative they have ever seen since the program began four years ago," said Lempert. "The competition was fierce and every nominated product deserves to be recognized as a potential best seller this coming year."

On the first day of the Expo, hundreds of retail and wholesale trade customers voted for their top picks in each category in the Most Innovative New Product Awards showcase. A Best in Show selection is also named from the list of final nominees. This year, the Best in Show award was presented to Tic Tac Minions, a new, limited edition product from Fererro USA launched in conjunction with the Minions movie expected to be released later this summer.

"In 2014, candy and snacks were responsible for 10 percent of total supermarket sales and 15% of the overall growth of supermarket sales," commented Downs. "Increasingly, retailers look to our Most Innovative New Product Award nominees and winners, and the trends represented among the selections, in order to determine what will perform well in the coming year."

Chocolate winner:

Albanese Confectionery » Albanese World's Best Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Peanuts

Nominees:
The Hershey Co. -- Hershey's Caramels

Marich Confectionery Co. - Marich Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn

Mars Chocolate North America -- Snickers Brand Mixed Nuts

Chuao Chocolatier -- Strawberry Waffle Wild

Nonchocolate winner:

Jelly Belly Candy Co. » Jelly Belly Pancakes & Maple Syrup Grab & Go Bag

Nominees:
Perfetti Van Melle USA -- Airheads Soft Filled Bites

Haribo of America Inc. -- Haribo Twin Snakes

Ferrara Candy Co. -- Now and Later Splits Lemonade Blends

Ferrara Candy Co. -- Trolli Extreme Sour Bites Fruitz Peg Bag

Sweet snacks winner:

The Hershey Co. » Hershey's Snack Mix

Nominees:
Alli & Rose, LLC - Alli & Rose Tropical Fields Crispy Mixed Fruit Chips

The Hershey Co. -- Brookside Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bar

Hammonds Candy/Old Dominion Peanut Co - Jalapeno Lime Brittle Crisp

Lady Walton's Cookie Company - Lady Walton's Milk Chocolate with Toasted Coconut

Salty snacks winner:

Diamond Foods » Kettle Brand Potato Chips Thick & Bold Dill Pickle

Nominees:
General Mills - Chex Mix Popped Sweet & Salty

Jack Link's Beef Jerky - Jack Link's Small Batch Hickory Bacon Jerky

Kellogg's Company - Pringles with Dip Jalapeno Cheddar

Twang Partners, LTD - Twangerz Snack Topping - Mango Chili Salty Sweet

Savory snacks winner:

Edward Marc Brands » Edward Marc Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Snappers

Nominees:
County Archer - Country Archer Sriracha Beef Jerky

Carl Budding Co. / Old Wisconsin - Fast Fuel Honey Brown Sugar Turkey Sausage Snack Bites

General Mills - Food Should Taste Good Real Good Bar - Hazelnut & Sea Salt

Oberto Brands - Smokey Sweet BBQ Style Chicken Strips

Novelty/licensed winner:

Jelly Belly Candy Co. » BeanBoozled Mystery Bean Dispenser

Nominees:
Bazooka Candy Brands - Juicy Drop Gummies

Flix Candy - Lolli Pop Ups - Avengers, Frozen

PEZ Candy Inc - PEZ Collectibles - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Ford Gum & Machine Co. - Smarties Squeeze Candy

Seasonal winner:

Brown & Haley » Roca Thins Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Nominees:
Palmer Candy Co. - Bakery Delight Pumpkin Pie Pretzels

Ferrara Candy Co. - Brach's Dark Chocolate Peppermint Almonds

Ferrara Candy Co. - Brach's Peanut Butter Cup Candy Corn

Burton's Biscuits Co. - Cadbury Creme Egg Cookies

Gourmet/premium winner:

SuperSeeds » SuperSeedz Maple Sugar & Sea Salt

Nominees:
Charms Company - Boutique Premium Lollipops

BumbleBerry Farms LLC - BumbleBerry Farms Sticky Buns Cinnamon Honey Cream

Brown & Haley - Dark Chocolate Roca Thins

Diamond K Sweets - P'Nutti Better Fudge O'Bits

Gum & mints winner:

Project 7 » Project 7 Grapefruit Melon

Nominees:
Dr. John's - Dr. John's Sweet Advantage Tangy Melon Mints

Perfetti Van Melle USA - Mentos NOW Mints Peppermint

Ferrero USA - TIC TAC MINIONS (also awarded Best in Show)

Mondelez International - Trident Layers Swedish Fish

"NCA's Most Innovative New Product Awards really do showcase the best the industry has to offer," said Lempert. "There's no other place you're going to see such a diverse array of products side by side. On the one hand you have Sticky Buns Cinnamon Cream, a deliciously sweet, smooth confectionery spread, and on the other hand you have the tart and tangy dill pickle-flavored potato chips from Kettle Brand."

The 2016 Most Innovative New Product Awards will be presented at next year's Sweets & Snacks Expo to be held in Chicago, May 24-26, 2016.

About the Sweets & Snacks Expo
Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, the Sweets & Snacks Expo is the confectionery and snack industry's most successful, world class event. It is unrivaled in new product launches, business building solutions and innovations in merchandising. More than 16,000 qualified professionals attend with global participation from 90 countries. More than 630 companies displaying nearly 4 acres of candy and snacks products exhibited at the 2015 Expo. The event is held each May at Chicago's McCormick Place.

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA)
The National Confectioners Association is the trade organization representing the $35 billion U.S. confections industry. With members in more than 40 states employing approximately 70,000 workers in more than 1,000 facilities across the U.S., NCA exists to advance, protect and promote the confectionery industry. NCA and its members value the fun and enjoyment of chocolate, candy, gum and mints, serving as a transparent and trustworthy source while building and promoting a responsible industry. As the leading trade association for the industry, NCA is proud of the role it plays in the public's understanding and appreciation of candy's unique role in a happy, balanced lifestyle.