The 2009 All Candy Expo, held May 19-21, experienced 7% growth in verified customer attendees and 4% verified growth in exhibitor participation, indicating that confectionery and snack products are important to wholesalers and retailers even in difficult economic times. Attendance reached nearly 14,000 industry professionals, the association said.
New [image-nocss] product innovations, merchandising solutions and emerging trends were at the forefront of the 2009 All Candy Expo. The show featured nearly 450 confectionery and snack companies from around the world and attracted more than 5,000 pre-qualified industry buyers representing nearly all trade and distribution channels, said NCA.
"In this challenging economy, new products are essential to our industry since they account for 30% of all confectionery sales every year. So it was only natural that the New Product Showcase featuring close to 1,000 new products was the first stop on everyone's list," said Tom Joyce, chairman of the All Candy Expo and vice president of customer and industry affairs for The Hershey Co. "We also know that often it takes more than just stocking good products to meet your sales goals, so we introduced a merchandising display gallery. This showcase highlighted hundreds of shippers and permanent displays which enabled retailers to find new ways to get products into consumers' hands."
Visitors from 69 countries attended the Expo and, for the first time, they were invited to participate in the Export Extravaganza, which included a pre-show tour of retail stores, one-on-one meetings with U.S. manufacturers who export and a display gallery of hundreds of items "made in the USA" available for export.
Since its inception three years ago, the Gourmet Marketplace has grown to include more than 60 confectionery and snack companies. Once again, a three-day "show-and-tell" of tastings, pairings and demonstrations happened in the "Taste of Gourmet" experience area, which featured the top names in chocolate and confection including The French Pastry School, Hello Cupcake, Frederic Loraschi of Chocolat Michel Cluizel as well as Master Chef Jacques Torres. Dove, Pastry Chef Suzy and Green & Black's scheduled upscale tastings and pairings throughout the show.
This year, gourmet events branched off of the show floor and into the Expo's educational sessions highlighting both chocolate expert, Joan Steuer, talking about the latest trends in gourmet; and a savory chocolate-themed luncheon featuring chocolatier Fritz Knipschildt.
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