Top Takeaways From Sweets & Snacks 2024
The Indiana Convention Center transformed into a real-life Candyland during the past two days of the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2024. With over 16,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, we saw everything from candy-themed video games to an abundance of giant, live mascots including Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, Pringles and more. But on the floor, discussions ranged from between combating rising cocoa prices to capitalizing on seasonal opportunities and injecting global flavors into savory snacks.
Grappling With Cocoa Prices: By now, it’s no secret that cocoa prices have been on a wild ride over the past year, due to bad harvests in two top cocoa-growing countries. According to brands like Endangered Species Chocolate and Chocxo, the biggest variable at the moment is an unpredictable crop quality for the upcoming fall harvest season.
A spokesperson for Chocxo – which showcased its new Cookies & Creme Cups at the show – said that the brand’s use of premium dark chocolate has meant price increases are hitting even harder. If needed, he said, the brand could shift focus away from bars and onto its Cups line – where only one-third of the product is chocolate.
Elsewhere in Candyland, lollipop producer Tazzy Candy showcased its first foray into chocolate. The brand’s new Swiss Milk Chocolate Bark line – crafted with chocolate from Switzerland – comes in three varieties: Crispy Crunch, Cookie Crumble, and Pretzel Caramel.
Seasonal Sells: According to the “Getting to Know Seasonal Chocolate and Candy Consumers” presentation given by Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, more than 63% of all candy sales occur during the four major holidays: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays. However, a strong GenZ/Millennial “micro-season” engagement (March Madness, Super Bowl, National Candy Month) is creating additional seasonal confectionery opportunities.
And there was no shortage of seasonal innovation on the show floor such as Brach’s fall-themed Mallow Cremes, Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snowballs and Halloween-inspired Fruit Snacks, Halloween-themed Nerds Gummy Clusters and Dunkin’ Filled Chocolate Eggs, among many others.
The other side of the show (a.k.a. Snacks!) saw plenty of savory products showcasing global flavors, and it seemed to serve as a launchpad for new brands looking to enter the North American market.
Canadian brand Bites of Tang touts itself as the first brand to bring the Asian snack “Guo Ba” to the North American market. The brand’s rice crisps – available in Sour Cream & Onion and Sichuan Mala varieties – offer a new twist on the classic snack and are currently available in Canada for $3.50 per 3.25 oz. bag.
Elsewhere, Cactus Foods showcased its Cactus Chips – offered in Sea Salt and Jalapeno flavors – that feature nopal cactus, an abundant source of antioxidants and vitamins, as a primary ingredient. According to founder Diana Gonzalez, the brand partners with a co-manufacturer who also works with brands like Siete. Both chip varieties will soon roll out on Amazon.
