10 New Snacks and Candies From the 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo

Snack and candy suppliers gathered at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis May 14-16 for the Sweets & Snacks Expo to showcase the newest items in or coming to convenience stores. This year’s expo featured 1,000 exhibitors at the show, which “offers an opportunity for the community to come together to debut products,” said John Downs, president & CEO of the National Confectioners Association, which is the host organization for the Sweets & Snacks Expo.

Here are 10 snacks and candies from the tradeshow that caught CSP’s attention …

Reese's Medals goes for the gold to celebrate the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. The brand's first-ever seasonal shape for summer is part of the company's partnership with Team USA. Reese's Medals are available now for a limited time in snack, standard and king packages.

Hershey’s Crunchy Waffle Cone Bars combines the company's flagship Hershey bar with real waffle cone pieces that offers a sweet and crunchy flavor experience. The bar is available nationwide beginning in August in standard (1.55 ounce) and king-size bar (2.55 ounce) formats.

Kit Kat Pink Lemonade bar is a limited-edition flavor that features a summer twist. Wrapped in a white creme with hints of strawberry and lemon tart, the Kit Kat Pink Lemonade bar will be available in June in standard bars.

Dot's Homestyle Pretzels continues to expand its lineup of new salty snacks. The latest is Dot's Homestyle Pretzels Parmesan Garlic Flavor that features a buttery and savory parmesan garlic flavor. The new item will be available in 16-ounce bags beginning in August and the 5-ounce bags will be available in October. 

Hi-Chew Gummies and Hi-Chew Gummies Sour are the newest products to hit the candy aisles from the classic chewlets company.  

Hi-Chew Gummies come in three flavors, Peach, Mango and Strawberry, while Hi-Chew Gummies Sour come in Green Apple, Pineapple and Watermelon. The products will begin rolling out in select retailers nationwide this fall. Both varieties will be offered in a 4.23-ounce peg bag for a suggested retail price of $3.29. 

“This launch of Hi-Chew Gummies and Hi-Chew Gummies Sour is an exciting next step for us in expanding our texture offerings,” Teruhiro (Terry) Kawabe, chief representative for the USA and president and CEO of Morinaga America Inc., told CSP.

Hi-Chew Dessert Mix is a new product that includes a trio of treats with three iconic American dessert flavors: Strawberry Ice Cream, Key Lime Pie and Candy Apple, which are all available in both peg bags and stand-up pouches.

The peg bags are available exclusively at select 7-Eleven and Speedway retailers nationwide. The stand up pouches are available in retailers nationwide.

Hubba Bubba Mini Gum at this year's Expo features a mix of fan-favorite Skittles Original flavor. The first new gum format from the brand since 1988, is now available at select retailers in 40-count bottles and 120-count stand-up pouches, and will continue to roll out nationally throughout the year. 

Hubba Bubba Mini Gum in Skittles Original Flavors was the winner of the 2024 Most Innovative New Product Awards in the gum and mint category.

Maria Urista, vice president at Mars Wrigley, said the gum was created "to deliver a new Skittles cross-over to fans that will bring more variety to the brand and surely to spark more moments of fun and play."

Combos Snacks showed its newest salty snack on the tradeshow floor at the Sweets & Snacks Expo. Combos Ranch Dip is now available nationwide in a 6.3-ounce bag. The stuffed snack features a bold and zesty ranch flavored-filling inside a crunchy, baked pretzel shell.

The M&M brand showed its upsizing again this time with its peanut butter flavor. M&M’s Peanut Butter Mega is the newest innovation. M&M’S Peanut Butter Mega has a peanut-buttery taste in a crunchy candy shell in a "mega bite," the company said. 

M&M’s Peanut Butter Mega is available nationwide in 2.83-ounce bags or 8.6-ounce bags. M&M's Minis Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Candy is also now available at select retailers nationwide in 1.74-ounce tubes and 8.6-ounce pouches.

Pringles will soon be available out-of-the-can and into the bag for a whole new way to enjoy the iconic crisps.

Pringles Mingles is a puffy and shareable snacking experience that is crispy on the outside and light and airy on the inside and available in three flavor varieties: Cheddar & Sour Cream, Sharp White Cheddar & Ranch, and Dill Pickle & Ranch.

Pringles Mingles will be available at all grocery retailers starting in October and in the convenience channel starting in December.

“Our iconic Pringles can is part of our identity—and it’s not going anywhere—but we’re always looking for new ways to innovate and satisfy our fans’ latest cravings," said Mauricio Jenkins, U.S. marketing lead for Pringles.