INDIANAPOLIS — The Sweets and Snacks Fairsponsored by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), relocated to Indianapolis in 2024 and announced a multi-year partnership with the city.
The show saw a record 1,000 exhibitors from more than 80 countries this year, and more than 300 new exhibitors. The NCA attributes this growth to its new host city, with Indiana Convention Centerits new location, offering space for expansion.
For more than 20 years, the Sweets & Snacks Expo was held in Chicago. However, in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the company to bring its edition to Indianapolis.
“The hospitality of the people of Indiana was overwhelming,” NCA President and CEO John Downs said of the 2021 event. “Everyone involved with the show, from attendees to show management, recognized that the city was an ideal location and we embraced the unique opportunity to return.”
“Indy is a city on the rise, and it’s the perfect city to meet the demands of our show and our community. Indy has successfully hosted several premier events, and Sweets & Snacks now joins the ranks of these world-class events. We’re embarking on a new chapter together in this first year of an exciting partnership with the City of Indianapolis, and this collaboration has a significant impact on our show’s ability to continue to grow to new heights in the future.”
This year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo featured two unique networking opportunities, rooted in the rich culture and history of Indianapolis. A happy hour was held at The Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Additionally, during the show’s Fast Track event, attendees were able to discover a Indy 500 Training session.
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More than 16,000 attendees visited the 2024 edition of Sweets & Snacks Expo, which offered 250,000 net square feet of exhibit space.
“As a showcase of innovation in the confectionery and snacks categories, the Sweets & Snacks Expo provides an opportunity for the community to come together to launch products, gain knowledge and create meaningful connections. This year’s show confirmed that there is no better place to do that than right here in Indianapolis. There was a renewed energy at the show from manufacturers, retailers, brokers and suppliers.” — and everyone is talking about our bright future,” Downs shared.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo will return to Indianapolis May 13-15, 2025, move to Las Vegas in 2026, and alternate between two years in Indianapolis and one year in Las Vegas through 2032.
Learn more about Sweets & Snacks Expo here.
Photo credit: National Confectioners Association