'Ace Of Cakes' Announced As Panelist At The Sweets & Snacks Expo

The National Confectioners Association is excited to announce that celebrity Chef Duff Goldman, better known as the “Ace of Cakes,” will join the elite panel of expert judges for the Most Innovative New Product Awards at the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo. The sold-out Expo, billed as the confectionery and snack industry’s most successful, world class event, takes place May 20-22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

The Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards showcase the most innovative ideas, concepts and products in two of the fastest growing categories in the marketplace: candy and snacks. A panel of experts comprising retail customers, food industry icons, trend experts and a registered dietician will analyze more than 270 new products – up 25 percent from 2013 – based on taste, innovation, go-to-market potential and packaging, among other criteria, to nominate the top items across nine categories.

“Duff is a well-known, well-liked and highly respected chef who has incredible talents in the kitchen and beyond,” commented Phil Lempert, television news reporter, food marketing expert and panel facilitator. “He pushes the envelope in every aspect of his creations – size, design, texture and flavor. His distinct culinary perspective adds a new level of evaluation for our panelists to consider while assessing the products in our program.”

Duff attended both the Corcoran College of Art and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley, California. He has worked under a number of acclaimed chefs and in 2000 opened his own business, Charm City Cakes, in Baltimore, MD and its west coast branch, Charm City Cakes West in Hollywood, CA in 2012.

The Food Network has aired 10 seasons of Ace of Cakes, a reality television show that focused on the daily operations of Charm City Cakes.

Panel participants gather to day before the Expo opens for the product judging. On the first day of the Sweets & Snacks Expo, thousands of retail and wholesale trade customers then have an opportunity to vote electronically for their favorite panel-selected items in each category in a special showcase.

“Our program celebrates innovation, so we want to continue to be innovative in the way that we structure the program itself,” commented Tim Quinn, vice president of trade development for Mars Chocolate North America and chairman of the Expo. “Enhancing the tasting panel through the addition of someone like Duff helps us further drill down into the items that truly have potential to become bestsellers in an industry that sees thousands of new product releases each year.”

Awards winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 21, by Phil Lempert, food trends editor for NBC’s TODAY Show and panel moderator during the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s keynote session.

Source: National Confectioners Association