Sweets & Snacks Expo Announces Category Specific Educational Tracks

March 16, 2017

Washington, D.C. (March 15, 2017) - The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo is pleased to offer customized tracks for the confectionery, snack and specialty categories. Hosted by the National Confectioners Association, the 2017 Expo will house nearly 20 educational sessions ranging from consumer insights to the latest industry trends for the candy, snack and specialty categories. New for 2017 will be a track especially designed for first-time attendees to help them optimize their experience at the industry’s premier trade show. 

“Providing attendees with an unrivaled trade show experience is paramount to the success of the Sweets & Snacks Expo,” commented Barry Rosenbaum, Expo chairman and president of Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc. “Having specialized tracks for candy, snack, specialty and now first-timers ensures that Expo is one of the best sources for trends and education within the industry.” 

Included in the various tracks are the pre-show morning “Eye-Opener” sessions which feature state of the market insight-packed sessions for candy, snack and specialty with each valued at $150, but offered to NCA members and retail attendees at no cost. 

A sampling of the topics to be covered in the category specific tracks can be found below: 

Confectionery: 

  • Confectionery 2017: State of the Market 
  • 2017 Global Candy and Snack Product Trends 
  • Unlocking Growth in Candy and Snacks 

Snack: 

  • Snacks 2017: State of the Market 
  • A Shopper Back Approach to Planning 
  • What Do Shoppers Really Want? 

Specialty: 

  • Specialty 2017: State of the Market 
  • What’s New and Trending in Flavors 
  • How Mediocrity Undid American Shopping 

First-Time Attendees: 

  • Your Best Expo: Getting the Most out of Your Sweets & Snacks Expo Experience 
  • Power Pitch II: How to Make Your First Pitch the Best Pitch 
  • What IBM is Seeing in Your Shopping Future 

The full educational schedule can be viewed on the Sweets & Snacks Expo website

The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo, May 23-25, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. will welcome more than 17,000 attendees from 90 different countries. Nearly 800 exhibitors will display the most innovative products the confectionery, snack and specialty categories have to offer. 

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA) 
The National Confectioners Association is the trade organization that advances, protects and promotes chocolate, candy, gum and mints, and the companies that make these special treats. As the leading association for the $35 billion U.S. confectionery industry, NCA educates the public to help ensure that it understands and appreciates the unique role that chocolate and candy can play in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Confections are produced in all 50 states, creating jobs for approximately 55,000 workers in more than 1,000 manufacturing facilities across the country. More than 400,000 jobs in agriculture, retail, transportation and other industries rely in part on the sale of confections for their livelihood. For every one job that is created by confectionery companies, another seven are supported in related industries. Learn more about the “Power of Sweet” at CandyUSA.com, or follow NCA on FacebookTwitter and Instagram. 

About the Sweets & Snacks Expo 
Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, the Sweets & Snacks Expo is the confectionery and snack industry’s most successful, world class event. It is unrivaled in new product launches, business building solutions and innovations in merchandising. Nearly 17,000 qualified professionals attend with global presence from 90 countries. More than 760 companies displaying more than 4 acres of candy and snack products participate in the Expo. The event is held each May at Chicago’s McCormick Place.