Last updated on June 6th, 2016 at 04:15 pm
Thousands of new confectionery and snack items were introduced to the world at the 2015 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago from May 19–21, hosted by the National Confectioners Association. Nearly four acres of chocolate, candy, cookies and savory snacks exhibits featured the hottest new products from 630 companies. New product launches revealed that candy and snack manufacturers are looking beyond the category for flavor inspiration this year. Breakfast staples like maple, waffles, and bacon were highlighted and will be hitting stores shelves soon, as were classic flavors inspired by childhood memories like s’mores, birthday cake and lemonade.
Here is a sneak peak for what’s in store for candy and snacks in the year ahead:
Bringing Breakfast Back
Breakfast will no longer be just for the morning if new product launches at the Sweets & Snacks Expo are any indication. Maple and maple syrup-flavored candies and snacks are just the tip of the iceberg. The flavors and foods usually consumed before 8 a.m. are inspiring candies and snacks across the board—from yogurt snacks to waffles and from peaches and cream to bacon.
Memory Lane
In addition to breakfast and traditional dessert favorites infiltrating the sweets and snacks industry, classic childhood flavors are also making a comeback and finding their way onto store shelves in the form of new candies and snacks. Fountain soda, pies, s’mores, birthday cake, lemonade and more will all be delivering memories of the past in this year’s new product innovations.
A Focus on Fruits
Fruits are in the lime-light at this year’s Expo. In addition to mainstays like orange, apple and cherry, candy and snack manufacturers are introducing new products including more sophisticated fruit varieties and flavor profiles like Meyer lemon, blood orange and golden delicious apples to name a few. Pumpkin and pineapple jalapeno also turn heads as newcomers to the snack world, while fruits like wine grapes and baobab are making their debut appearances.
“A review of new product launches and current industry trends points to other classic flavors like marshmallow, cinnamon and peppermint making resurgences this year,” predicted candy trends expert and NCA’s Vice President of Public Relations, Susan Whiteside. “DIY has also crept into the category with products to make, dip, spread or decorate yourself.”
