WASHINGTON -- Citing the "overwhelming growth and innovation" taking place within the confectionery and snack industry over the past five years, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the expansion of the Sweets & Snacks Expo with the introduction of an additional hall.
More than 130 new companies will occupy the new Skyline Hall at the 2016 Expo with exhibiting companies expected to grow by nearly 20%.
“The Sweets & Snacks Expo has become the industry's proven destination where attendees gain the best access to the companies, products, people and insights they need to grow their business,” said Barry Rosenbaum, Expo chairman and president of Nassau Candy Distributors Inc. “Managing the growth of the Expo over the past several years has allowed us to deliberately and carefully plan for additional exhibit space, new educational offerings and more networking opportunities.”
Located across the concourse on the same level as the current West hall, the addition of the Skyline Hall will feature not only more companies, but also the latest emerging industry trends, including the expanded “Innovation Avenue."
In addition to containing a second knowledge center specializing in tracks on snacking, specialty trends as well as the newest consumer and shopping trends, the Most Innovative New Products the Awards showcase and ceremony will be also located in the new hall. Visitors will be able to experience awards showcase highlighting the top 45 new items deemed to have potential to become best sellers by the Expo's Taste Panel, and then vote electronically via the event app on their favorite.
The 2015 Sweets & Snacks Expo welcomed 16,000 industry professionals from nearly 90 countries showcasing 630 companies. In 2016, NCA expects more than 750 exhibitors to participate, it said.
The 2016 Sweets & Snacks Expo is taking place May 24 to 26 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
The Expo attracts thousands of pre-qualified candy and snack retail and wholesale customers representing nearly every distribution channel from the largest global retail chains down to small, independently owned candy shops.
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