CHICAGO – New-product launches reveal that candy and snack manufacturers are looking beyond the category for flavor inspiration this year, said the National Confectioners Association (NCA).
Prominent examples that will be hitting stores shelves soon include breakfast staples such as maple, waffles and bacon, as are classic flavors inspired by childhood memories like s'mores, birthday cake and lemonade.
Thousands of new confectionery and snack items will be introduced to the world at the 2015 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago from May 19-21. Nearly four acres of chocolate, candy, cookies and savory snacks exhibits will feature the hottest new products from 630 companies and showcase innovation on every aisle. The NCA hosts the annual trade event to connect retail and wholesale candy and snack customers with the industry's manufacturers.
"In whatever its form or flavor, candy is affordable, honest, authentic and transparent," said NCA president and CEO John H. Downs Jr. "About 123 million U.S. households purchase chocolate, non-chocolate candy, gum or mints each year. Whether you're enjoying a taste of your favorite brand of chocolate or celebrating Halloween by passing out sweets, the presence of candy in our lives is always a fun treat."
Top Candy & Snack Trends 2015
(Trends derived from products submitted for NCA's Most Innovative New Product Awards and displayed in the New Product Showcase)
- Bringing Breakfast Back. Breakfast will soon no longer be just for the morning if new product launches at the Sweets & Snacks Expo are any indication. Maple and maple syrup-flavored candies and snacks are just the tip of the iceberg. The flavors and foods usually consumed before 8:00 a.m. are inspiring candies and snacks across the board—from yogurt snacks to waffles and from peaches and cream to bacon.
- Memory Lane. In addition to breakfast and traditional dessert favorites infiltrating the sweets and snacks industry, classic childhood flavors are also making a comeback and finding their way onto store shelves in the form of new candies and snacks. Fountain soda, pies, s'mores, birthday cake, lemonade and more will all be delivering memories of the past and packing big flavor in this year's new-product innovations.
- A Focus on Fruits. Fruits are in the limelight at this year's Expo. In addition to mainstays such as orange, apple and cherry, candy and snack manufacturers are introducing new products including more sophisticated fruit varieties and flavor profiles like Meyer lemon, blood orange and golden delicious apples to name a few. Pumpkin and pineapple jalapeno also turn heads as newcomers to the snack world, while fruits like wine grapes and baobob are making their debut appearances. The use of real fruit in candy and snack products is also on the rise.
"A review of new-product launches and current industry trends points to other classic flavors like marshmallow, cinnamon and peppermint making resurgences this year," predicted candy trends expert and NCA's vice president of public relations, Susan Whiteside. "DIY has also crept into the category with products to make, dip, spread or decorate yourself. We also expect to see innovation in the form of technology, like automation that allows you to customize your own confections on demand, sustainable packaging and even 3-D printing."
The NCA is the trade organization representing the $35 billion U.S. confections industry.
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