Washington, D.C. – With less than seven weeks to go until the 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo, May 23-25 in Chicago, IL, the trade show floor has sold out and started a wait list for the fifth consecutive year. The 2017 Expo will welcome more than 800 companies showcasing four acres of confectionery and snack product innovation. More than 17,000 industry professionals from nearly 90 countries are slated to attend the premier trade show for the candy and snack categories.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo continues to be a proven destination for category professionals to gain the best access to the products, people and insights needed to grow their business as 85 percent of the U.S. candy industry and 75 percent of the U.S. snack industry will be represented all in one location for three days. New features for the 2017 show include:
- “Eye Opener” Morning Knowledge Building Sessions featuring state of the market presentations valued at $150 each, but waived for qualified retail attendees and NCA members.
- The launch of the Small Business Innovator Award, as part of the 2017 Most Innovative New Products Program, is specifically designed to highlight companies with net sales of $500,000 and under.
- The debut of Destination Retail which will encompass the Merchandising Gallery of Success along with new technology pods demonstrating the latest in-store advances from leading companies.
Due to the continued success of the Sweets & Snacks Expo, Trade Show Executive magazine has named the show to its “Fastest 50” list, recognizing the fastest growing trade shows worldwide. The industry's signature trade show received three honors, having been named to the 50 fastest-growing shows by number of exhibiting companies, garnering a “Next 50” award by net square feet of exhibit space and another “Next 50” award by total attendance.
“We are honored to receive such a distinction from Trade Show Executive magazine as proof that the industry recognizes the Sweets & Snacks Expo as the destination where retailers and exhibitors go to grow their businesses,” commented Barry Rosenbaum, Expo chairman and president of Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc. “The 2017 Expo promises to be no different as we continually seek to solidify our stature as the must-attend event for the candy, snack and specialty categories.”
Hosted by BZ Media LLC, the award is given to the nation’s fastest growing organizational events that exceed industry benchmarks. The Sweets & Snacks Expo outpaced industry benchmarks by more than 10 times in number of exhibiting companies, and more than five times in net square feet of exhibit space and attendance. This is the third time the Sweets & Snacks Expo has received a “50 Fastest” award, having been first named to the list in 2011 for number of exhibitors and then again in 2013 for attendance.
To learn more about the Expo, visit sweetsandsnacks.com.
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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 Facebook, Twitter 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.
Source: National Confectioners Association (NCA)