CHICAGO – The National Confectioners Association (NCA) Sweets & Snacks Expo celebrated its 25th anniversary in late May, as the sweet event returned to McCormick Place in Chicago after a two-year hiatus.
This year, the show welcomed 700 exhibitors and 16,000 attendees, nearly identical to 2019. The show spanned nearly 4.5 acres of confectionery and snack innovation and injected an estimated $21 million into the local economy.
“There’s no better way to celebrate this milestone anniversary for Sweets & Snacks Expo than in Chicago, with the entire industry on display,” said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association. “Throughout its history, the show has served as a launching pad for new products and companies and showcased new ideas for the confectionery and snack industries. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Sweets & Snacks Expo the premier trade show for the confectionery and snack industries, and I look forward to what the next 25 years of innovation in these dynamic and resilient categories will look like.”
The 2022 Sweets and Snacks Expo unveiled the year’s latest innovations in candy and snacks. Trends included s’mores-flavored everything and “newstalgic” takes on beloved classics. With extreme sweets and sours taking center stage, bold flavors in a variety of package sizes and product types also made waves at the Expo.
Featuring business development solutions and merchandising innovations, the annual show brings together qualified candy and snack retail professionals and company representatives to showcase the latest in candy and snack innovations. Hundreds of the world’s leading candy manufacturers introduce new products at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which also showcases the latest innovations in chips, nuts, sweet snacks, jerky, pretzels and more.
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Sweets & Snacks Expo Moves to Indianapolis and Las Vegas
Moving
The major trade show will move from Chicago, its home for 25 years, after the 2023 edition to Indianapolis and Las Vegas. The show will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis in May 2024 and 2025, followed by a year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This rotation of event locations will continue through 2032.
Contact John Downs at president@candyusa.com