WASHINGTON -- During the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago in May, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) bestowed 45 Most Innovative New Product Award nominations to companies showcasing imaginative ideas, concepts and products in confectionery and snacks.
The day before the Sweets & Snacks Expo a panel of experts sampled more than 280 product submissions. Panel participants included The NPD Group trends expert Harry Balzer, Mariano's Fresh Market registered dietician Peggy Balboa, Ace of Cakes celebrity chef Duff Goldman and the Food Network's Iron Chef winner and restaurateur Homaro Cantu, as well as executives from some of the top U.S. retailers of candy and snack products, including Dollar General, Eby-Brown, Hy-Vee, It'sSugar, Mariano's. Meijer, Sam's Club, Safeway, Walgreens and Walmart.
The panel analyzed nine candy and snack segments ranging from chocolate and non-chocolate to savory and salty snacks to the newest category, gum and mints. Panelists then rated product submissions on taste, packaging, innovation and go-to-market feasibility and nominated five of the top items in each of the nine segments.
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.
Included among the 2014 winners was the inaugural Best in Show prize, awarded to the product show attendees nominated as the best-of-the-best at the Expo. That honor was given to The Hershey Co.'s York Minis, which both the panelists and attendees deemed most likely to succeed.
Nominees and winners in each category:
Chocolate winner: The Chocolate Traveler, Tabasco Chocolate Bars
Nominees:
- The Chocolate Traveler, Tabasco Chocolate Bars
- The Hershey Co., York Minis
- Kimmie Candy Co., Salted Caramel ChocoRocks
- Mars Chocolate North America, Snickers Rockin' Nut Road
- Scho-ko-lade, Scho-ko-lade
Non-chocolate winner: Jelly Belly Candy Co., Jelly Belly Draft Beer Jelly Beans
Nominees:
- Just Born Inc., Peeps Minis Sour Watermelon Flavored Marshmallow
- Candy Dynamics, Goop Gum Sour Liquid Filled Gum
- Jelly Belly Candy Co., Jelly Belly Draft Beer Jelly Beans
- Tierra Nueva Fine Cocoa, Coffee Thins Peppermint
- Hillside Candy, GoOrganic Fruit Chews
Sweet snacks winner: Bare Snacks, Crunchy Coconut Chips "Show Me the Honey"
Nominees:
- Bare Snacks , Crunchy Coconut Chips "Show Me the Honey"
- Mars Chocolate North America, TWIX Bites Unwrapped
- Stuff 'n Mallows, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Stuffed Marshmallows
- That's How We Roll, Mrs. Thinsters Cookie Thins Brownie Batter
- That's How We Roll, Mrs. Thinsters Cookie Thins Chocolate Chip
Salty snacks winner: Gourmet Basics, Slim Chips White Cheddar
Nominees:
- Giant Snacks, Giant's Sriracha Sunflower Seeds
- Gourmet Basics, Slim Chips White Cheddar
- Hardbite Chips, Hardbite Lightly Salted Parsnip Chips
- Oberto Brands, Oberto Spicy Buffalo Style Chicken Strips
- POP! Gourmet Popcorn, Fire Corn White Cheddar Jalapeno Popcorn
Savory snacks winner: POP! Gourmet Popcorn, Sriracha Popcorn
Nominees:
- Edward Marc Chocolatier, Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Snappers
- Flamous Brands Inc., Flamous Spicy Fiesta Chips
- Cheesewich, Cheesewich Colby Jack Cheese & Salami
- Ripple Brand Collective, Bark Thins Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seeds
- POP! Gourmet Popcorn, Sriracha Popcorn
Novelty/licensed winner: Leaf Brands / Astro Pop, LLC, Sour Farts Flow Pack
Nominees:
- Concord Confections Inc., Fizzers Fizzing Bubble Gum
- Ford Gum & Machine Co. Inc., Big League Chew Bubblegum Baseball
- Ford Gum & Machine Co. Inc., Flavor Ice Cherry Bubblegum filled with Blue-Raspberry Powder
- Jelly Belly Candy Co., Jelly Belly Disney Princess Slipper
- Leaf Brands / Astro Pop, LLC, Sour Farts Flow Pack
Seasonal winner: Vigneri Chocolate, Doodle Egg
Nominees:
- Atkinson Candy Company, Sophie Mae Gingerbread Pecan Brittle
- Ferrara Candy Co., Brach's Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn
- Ferrara Candy Co., Brach's Peppermint Crème Jelly Candy Canes
- Just Born Inc., Peeps Orange and Crème Flavored Marshmallow Chicks
- Vigneri Chocolate, Doodle Egg
Gourmet/premium winner: Ripple Brands Collective, Bark Thins Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconuts
Nominees:
- Lir Chocolates, Guinness Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar
- Hammond's Candies, Hammond's Whoopie Pie Chocolate Bar
- Chuao Chocolatier, Oh My S'mores!
- Chuao Chocolatier, Pretzel Toffee Twirl
- Ripple Brands Collective, Bark Thins Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconuts
Gum & Mints Winner: Project 7, Project 7 Coconut Lime
Nominees:
- The Hershey Co., Ice Breakers Cool Blasts Chews
- Project 7, Project 7 Coconut Lime
- Vitaball Inc., Vitamingum Fresh Cinnamon
- Wm. Wrigley Co., Altoids Arctic, Peppermint
- Wm. Wrigley Co., Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews
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