During the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo, held in Chicago in May, the National Confectioners Association (NCA) bestowed 40 Most Innovative New Product nominations to companies showcasing imaginative ideas, concepts and products in two of the fastest growing categories in the marketplace: confectionery and snacks.

Retail and wholesale trade customers then electronically selected one winner in each of the eight categories that help make up the $80 billion U.S. sweets and snacks industry.

“The Expo’s new product awards program has been not only one of the most unique and diverse as far as product submissions, but also one of the fastest-growing, most popular awards programs with submissions up 17% in the last year,” said Phil Lempert, food trends editor for NBC’s TODAY Show and panel moderator.

The day before the Sweets & Snacks Expo, thought leaders including top U.S. retailers, food industry icons and trend experts collaborated and taste-tested more than 200 product submissions.

Panel participants included The NPD Group Trends expert Harry Balzer, Saatchi & Saatchi X’s Worldwide CEO Dina Howell and the Food Network’s Iron Chef winner and restaurateur Chef Homaro Cantu as well as executives from some of the top retailers of candy and snack products in the U.S. including:
•            BP/ARCO Ampm
•            Dollar General
•            Eby-Brown Company
•            IT’SUGAR
•            Meijer
•            Sam’s Club
•            Safeway
•            Walgreens
•            Walmart

The panel analyzed eight candy and snack segments ranging from chocolate and nonchocolate to savory and salty snacks. Panelists then rated product submissions on taste, packaging, innovation and go-to-market feasibility and nominated up to five of the top items across the eight segments.

On the first day of the Expo, more than 1,000 retail and wholesale trade customers voted for their top picks in each category in the Most Innovative New Product Awards showcase.

 “About 30% of annual confectionery and snack sales are attributed to products introduced in the last two years, so these launches are critical to industry success,” commented NCA President Larry Graham.

Announced at a keynote session during the Expo, the nominees and winners in each category are as follows:

Chocolate winner:  The Hershey Company – Kit Kat Minis
Nominees:

Chuao Chocolatier – Pop corn Pop

Cosijns Chocolatier – Sushi Dessert Garden Party

Mars Inc. – M&M’s Chocolate Bar

Pure Chocolate – Exclusive Truffles Collection

Non-chocolate winner:  Tierra Nueva Fine Cocoa – Coffee Thins
Nominees:

Ferrara Candy Co. – Trolli Evil Twins

Jel Sert – Mott’s Freezer Bars

Just Born, Inc. – Hot Tamales Tropical Heat

Project 7 – Save the Earth Mints

Sweet snacks winner:  Sprinkle It On – Handmade Marshmallow & Rice Cereal Confectionery

Nominees:

479 – Toasted Coconut Caramel

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company – Starburst Minis

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company – Lifesaver Berry Bites Gummies

Salty snacks winner:  Sahale Snacks – Pomegranate Pistachios

Nominees:

Gourmet Basics – Original Sweet Maui Rings

Herr Foods, Inc. – Baked Multigrain Crisps – Tuscan Garden Medley

That’s How We Roll – Party’tizer Dippin Chips

The Daily Crave – The Daily Crave Veggie Chips

Savory snacks winner:  Fire Corn Popcorn/Pop Gourmet – B.A.’s Fire Corn, Real Jalapeno Popcorn

Nominees:

Big League Snacks – Big League Jerky – Sweet & Spicy flavor

Fire Corn Popcorn/Pop Gourmet – POP! Gourmet Popcorn, Rogue Blue Popcorn

Pizza is 4 Suckers – Pizza is 4 Suckers – Hard Candy

Sahale Snacks – Maple Pecans

Novelty/licensed winner:  Jelly Belly Candy Co. – Tabasco Jelly Bean bottles

Nominees:

Bazooka Candy Brands – Ring Pop Gummies

Jel Sert Company – Baskin Robbins Sherbet Freezer Bars

Swiss Colony Retail Brands – Blueberry and Pomegranate Jelly Belly Cake Bites

Swiss Colony Retail Brands – Very Cherry Jelly Belly Cake Bites

Seasonal winner:  Russell Stover Candies, Inc. – Russell Stover S’mores BIG BITE Bar

Nominees:

Charms Company – Charms Candy Corn Pops

Just Born, Inc. – Party Cake Flavored Marshmallow PEEPS®

Just Born, Inc. – PEEPS® Chick in Chocolate Egg

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company – Starburst Candy Corn

Gourmet/premium winner:  Hammond’s Candies – Hammond’s Milk Chocolate Red Velvet Cake Bar

Nominees:

Bare Fruit – Bare Fruit Natural Chili Lime Apple Chips

Golden Island Jerky – Korean BBQ Pork Jerky

Hammond’s Candies – Hammond’s Peanut Butter Cup Gift Box

Two Haute Cowgirls Popcorn Confections – Haute Buttered Rum Brittle

“We are seeing new trends emerge including creative spins on classic candy and snack favorites as well as wild new flavor combinations for treats,” commented Expo Chairman Tim Quinn, vice president of trade development at Mars Chocolate North America. “Where else but at the Sweets & Snacks Expo will you find birthday cake PEEPS, pizza-flavored hard candy, a bee pollen chocolate bar and sweet and savory quinoa clusters?”

Award winners then had two days at the Expo to proudly display their awards and make the industry aware of their accomplishment.

“It is an honor to have our new Kit Kat Mini’s selected as the most innovative new chocolate product,” said Tom Joyce, vice president global customer and industry affairs of The Hershey Company. “We are in a very competitive industry with many outstanding companies making great products. As leaders in the industry, it is important for us to support the Expo and inspire innovation within the category.”

“Being a finalist and then winning drove many potential customers and partners to our booths,” said David Israel, CEO of Pop Gourmet, makers of Real Jalapeno Popcorn. “There was quite a buzz that was stimulated by this experience. It also solidified that we are leading the way in quality and innovation within our category.”

The 2014 Most Innovative New Product Awards will be presented at next year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo to be held in Chicago, May 20-22, 2014.

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Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo hosted a sold out show at Chicago’s McCormick Place to an audience of more than 15,000 qualified industry professionals. The Expo which was held May 21–23 is billed as the confectionery & snack industry’s most successful, world class event.

 “For the fourth year in a row, the Expo demonstrated significant growth in all areas. Our ten percent increase in overall Expo registration is an accomplishment we relish,” commented NCA President Larry Graham. “In a challenging economy, it is apparent by the continued growth that our event provides vital tools, insights, innovations and resources that the industry values.”

Total registration in 2012 was 14,010, and in 2013 it totaled 15,389—a 10% increase. Total square feet sold grew from 144,000 in 2012 to 157,100 in 2013—a 9% increase. New exhibitors grew from 140 in 2012 to 164 in 2013.

This year, 12% of Expo visitors traveled from outside of the U.S. The show experienced double digit international participation with more than 90 countries attending. “NCA recognizes the power of U.S. brands around the world and we feel the 2013 Expo successfully positioned itself as a destination for world markets to come together,” said Graham. “We plan to continue expanding our global efforts and outreach for future shows by partnering with firms including Planet Retail and Euromonitor.”

In addition, more than 6,000 candy and snack trade customers registered to attend, representing key distribution channels like grocery, convenience, and mass as well as niche and specialty outlets. The Expo is the only venue that represents all of the major U.S. distribution channels of candy and snack products in one location.



“We have evolved into so much more than just a show. Attendees come to find not only new product innovations but also effective business strategies and inspiring ideas and solutions,” noted Tim Quinn, vice president trade development of Mars Chocolate North America and Expo chairman. “With the addition of the new show-wide networking reception on Wednesday afternoon, we provided another opportunity for manufacturers and customers of every size to connect with current contacts as well as forge new business partnerships. Our goal was to provide a solid business opportunity in a relaxed but fun atmosphere.”

New in 2013, was the show-stopping Shopper Solutions Theater. Visitors flocked to this first-time offering to learn about proven merchandising displays in the Gallery of Success, and then attend one of the many standing-room-only Learning Lab sessions presented by the merchandising industry’s top experts.

The day before the Expo, a panel of experts made up of retail customers, food industry icons and trend experts, met to narrow down a field of more than 200 new product entries for the Most Innovative New Product Awards. The Awards panel analyzed taste, packaging, innovation, as well as go-to-market feasibility and then selected up to five of the top items across eight categories.

Then more than 2,000 retailer ballots were cast in the Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards showcase during the first day of the show. The winning products were announced and awards presented during the keynote sessions the following day.

“New item submissions for the awards were up 17% from the year prior despite a flat year of new product releases according Datamonitor,” commented Quinn. “This demonstrates how manufacturers see the Sweets & Snacks Expo as a vital vehicle in promoting and sharing product innovation within the candy and snack industry.”

Highlights from 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo included: 

• Keynote sessions featured well-known names including Duke University’s Coach K about the value of leadership and teamwork, as well as Pulitzer-prizing-winning columnist George Will’s assessment of how politics affect your business. Leon Nicholas of Kantar Retail discussed the future of the confectionery and snack industry while Dina Howell, worldwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi X, provided inside tips on how to connect with shoppers through proven retail strategies.

• The sold-out Gourmet Marketplace nearly doubled in size over the past three years, anchored by an enhanced ‘Taste of Gourmet’ area showcasing artisans conducting upscale pairings and demonstrations throughout the show.

• For the third year in a row, Innovation Alley featured a handful of candy- and snack-related startup companies who ended the show with solid contacts that will jump start their foray into the industry and onto retailer’s shelves.

• A park-like concourse adorned with trees and music featured market shops including a fashion kiosk with custom-made dresses from iconic candy wrappers and several candy- and snack-themed jewelry and accessory stores.

Chatter about the Expo’s offerings went viral in a 360-degree social media outreach program that garnered thousands of tweets, postings and picture uploads. The Expo’s Facebook likes grew by 38% while thousands downloaded the official Expo App to connect with other attendees, download exhibitor show materials and navigate the show floor. Exhibitors fully embraced the Expo’s all-new virtual media center posting and socialize more than 100 news releases, double the amount posted in 2012.

“The Expo is a proven destination that 96% of past retailers surveyed recognize as a solid business value. They have told us that it is the most efficient one-stop destination they need each year to keep on top of the trends and innovations. We promise the industry to continue to over-deliver in 2014 on the entire Expo experience that has led to a four year growth track record,” Graham concluded.

Re-live all of the excitement from the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo including photos, videos, Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter posts by downloading the Expo App at www.sweetsandsnacks.com.

The 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo will be held May 20-22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Even though the 2014 show floor has increased, it is already more than 85 percent sold out. For more information or to reserve your space, contact NCA at 202.534.1440.

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The 2013 Sweets and Snacks Expo, presented by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) took place in Chicago at McCormick Place May 21-23.

The show brought together more than 15,000 manufacturers, buyers and industry leaders from 70 countries. More than 600 companies debuted treats, and more than 150 businesses displayed candy or snacks for the first time. The 2013 Expo marked the largest in both floor size and number of exhibitor’s in the show’s history.

New and unusual spices and flavors, comfort foods, and little tastes emerged as the 2013 trends to meet the ever-evolving appetites of consumers.

“In 2013, confectionery and snacks are spicing up life,” said Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association. “We’ve seen tangy flavors in sweets and snacks before, but the variations are becoming more daring each year. Consumers are excited by new flavors and formulas, and the confectionery and snack industries have obliged. We’re looking across borders and cultures for inspiration, we’re borrowing flavors historically not found in the category, and we’re taking consumers along for a wild and satisfying ride.”

 Top Consumer Snack Trends 2013:

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot— Chipotle, picante and jalapeño – consumers can’t get enough spice when it comes to candy and snacks this year. Candy and chocolate products like American Gourmet Group’s Chipotle Dark Chocolate Bar, Seth Greenberg’s Authentic Southwest Jalapeno Crunch from Brownie Crunch or Jelly Belly Candy Company’s Tabasco-flavored Jelly Belly jelly beans combine the tastes of sweet and spicy. Snack foods often take a more traditionally spicy route as seen in products like Rocky Mountain Popcorn’s Chile Picante Poplets and Perky Jerky’s Hot and Bothered Turkey Jerky.

Get Comfy— Comfort foods have taken over the food industry in recent years, with traditional offerings becoming more innovative. This trend toward comfort has invaded the candy and snack categories combining comfort foods like honey and cake with more traditional items. Hammond’s Milk Chocolate Red Velvet Bar from Hammond’s Candies, Ardené Cookies’ Butterscotch Peanut Butter cookies, Bobi Bee Sweet USA’s Bobi Bee Manuka Honey Sweet Treat and Haute Buttered Rum Brittle from Too Haute Cowgirls Popcorn Confections are all sure to leave you feeling warm and cozy inside.

Bits and Bites—When you want just a small taste of chocolate or your favorite snack, nothing else will do. This year, a bounty of bites hit the market with products like Perfetti Van Melle USA’s Airheads Bites in fruit and berry flavors, barkTHINS snacking chocolate from Ripple Brand Collective, Bonomo Chocolate Covered Vanilla Nibbles from The Warrell Corporation, The Hershey Company’s Kit Kat Minis, and Starburst Minis from Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. Mars Chocolate North America is introducing SNICKERS Bites and MILKY WAY Bites.

Everything Old Is New Again—Candy makers in particular love to put a new spin on classic products. Fun and novel Ring Pops get a new life in Bazooka Candy Brand’s Ring Pop Gummies, traditional marshmallows are re-invented with Campfire Marshmallow’s Mallow Bursts in flavors like key lime and lemon meringue, candy corn takes on all new form and function in the Charms Company’s new Candy Corn Pops, and even Just Born’s Marshmallow Peeps got in the act with bubblegum and birthday cake flavors.

Alternatreats—Nontraditional ingredients have increasingly found their way into the confectionery and snack aisles, taking advantage of global tastes and expanding palates. Products like Flamous Brand’s Sprouted Mulitgrain Zatar Chips, I Heart Keenwah’s Chocolate Sea Salt Quinoa Clusters, Love Your Health’s soynut, pumpkin seeds and cranberry Soy Mix, and Rickland Orchard’s Greek on the Go! Mango Granola Bites made with Greek yogurt encourage consumers to think ‘outside the bag’ when it comes to snacking.

Decidedly Decadent —Treat yourself to the rich and decadent tastes coming out of this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo with products ranging from those that are a feast for the eyes like Cosijns Chocolatier’s Sushi Dessert Garden Party to candies that will bring back memories of childhood campfires like Russell Stover’s S’more Big Bite Bar to treats that will allow you to indulge in new tastes like DOVE Chocolate’s new Cookies and Crème and Mint and Dark Chocolate Swirl bars.

Tantalizing Tastes—Candy and snack makers let their imaginations run wild when it comes to developing new flavors for treats. This year, consumers can expect to indulge in a huge variety of taste sensations including Van Holten’s Big Papa Dill Pickle Popcorn, BLK Corporation’s Caoni Milk Chocolate with Passion Fruit and Torie and Howard’s Organic Hard Candy in flavors like D’Anjou Pear and Cinnamon and Pink Grapefruit and Tupelo Honey.

* Product examples from among those submitted for NCA’s Most Innovative New Product Awards

State of the Industry

    The confectionery industry contributes $33 billion+ to U.S. retail sales and employs more than 70,000 workers.

    Confectionery retail sales have grown steadily since 2007, increasing from $27.4 billion to $32.8 billion in 2012+.

    Major holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas/Hanukkah generate more than $7 billion+ in seasonal sale items.

    Confectionery (chocolate, candy and gum) ranks as the fourth largest product category in overall food sales.*

Snacks also contribute impressively to the U.S. economy:

    Total sweet and savory snacks, including chips, cookies, snack bar and nuts, contribute $40 billion to U.S. retail sales.~

    Sweet and savory snacks sales have increased 22.6% since 2007, climbing from $32.7 billion to $40.1 billion in 2012.~

    The biggest holiday driver for snack sales differs from confectionery with events like the Super Bowl taking the top spot. Some 46% of consumers report indulging in salty snacks for the big game.^

Dollar sales are climbing across the board for candy and snacks*:

(Dollar sales change 2012 v 2011)

Snack Nuts / Seeds / Corn Nuts              +10.9%

Snack / Granola Bars               +6.9%

Crackers:                  +6.7%

Non Chocolate Candy               +5.8%

Cookies                  +4.9%

Salty Snacks               +4.2%

Chocolate Candy               +4.1%

Sources:

+ NCA estimates, 2013

* IRI data, 2013

~Euromonitor, 2013

^ Nielsen, 2013

2012 Product Launches

Candy and snack items accounted for 26% of all new CPG introductions in the past year. In 2012, thousands of new confectionery and snack products debuted to meet consumer demand. These included:

  •  765 new confectionery products:

        Chocolate: 423

        Sugar Confectionery (non-chocolate): 302

        Gum: 40

    • 2,183 new snack, cookie and cracker products:
        Cookies: 310

        Crackers: 188

        Potato chips: 283

        Popcorn: 102

        Nuts and seeds: 178

        Cereal bars: 451

        Other savory snacks (pretzels, tortilla chips, puffed snacks, fruit snacks, meat snacks, etc.): 522

        Processed Snacks (tortilla chips, corn chips, other non-potato chips): 149 

Source: Datamonitor Consumer’s Product Launch Analytics online database of new U.S. products SKUs 2012.

Consumers and Snacking

    • 32% of consumers like to eat candy and other snacks that add excitement to the daily diet.*

    • 27% of consumers feel gourmet products are worth paying extra for.*

    • 49% of consumers look for confectionery and snacks that appeal to multiple people in the household.*

    • Snackers are loyal people with 79% of consumers saying they usually seek out their favorite candy and snacks brands and 43% noting that these brands are often the ones they loved as children.+

    • 50% of after-dinner snackers say they chose items that “delight” them.+

Sources:

* IRI

+ The Hartman Group

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Pictured are (left to right) Tim Quinn, vice president of trade development for Mars Chocolate North America and chairman of the 2013 NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo; David Tracy, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Chicago South Suburbs; and Larry Graham, president of the NCA.

Donation to help fund the construction of homes in Chicago’s south suburbs.

To show appreciation to Chicago for being home to the NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo and to honor the tradition and history of the confectionery industry here, Mars Chocolate North America presented a check to Habitat for Humanity Chicago South Suburbs during the trade show on May 21.

The $5,000 donation will help a local Chicago family secure a safe, affordable home.

The National Confectioners Association’s Sweets & Snacks Expo attracts 15,000 industry professionals from around the globe and has called Chicago home since the first show in 1997.

The donation is an extension of a cause-related marketing partnership between M&M’S Brand and Habitat For Humanity International designed to make “America Better With M.” M&M’S Brand will donate $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity International to help fund the construction of homes through a series of programs in 2013.

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Available in a 5.64-ounce bag, Tangy Zany Sour Wild Berry has a suggested retail price of $1.49.

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By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor.

The gum category has faced an ongoing sales decline since 2010. In 2012, gum saw monthly sales of $954 at convenience stores, with a monthly gross profit of $460, and a gross margin of 48.2%, according to NACS State of the Industry (SOI) data released last month.

Gum accounted for 21.3% of candy syndicated sales at convenience stores, down 3.7% from 2011, according to SOI data. Meanwhile, candy rolls, mints and drops saw monthly sales of $296, with a monthly gross profit of $148, and a gross margin of 49.9%. Rolls, mints and drops combined accounted for 6.6% of c-store candy sales, up 8% year over year, the report said.

Chicago-based research firm Mintel, has painted a gloomy forecast for gum over the next four years, expecting sales to continue to decline 1.7% through 2017. Still, gum remains a $4.3 billion business. With marketing and positioning based around gum chewing occasions, retailers can drive sales in the category.

A Fresh Look
The Convenience Consumer Insights Panel (cciPanel), a mobile research panel from Management Science Associates (MSA) and Paradigm Sample, in partnership with Convenience Store Decisions, examined the behaviors and attitudes of convenience store gum and mint buyers from March 18-22, 2013. Respondents were balanced by U.S. regions and results included responses from 496 adults ages 18 and older.

The study found that eight in 10 c-store gum buyers cited “freshen breath” as their motivation for chewing gum, but knowledge of other gum chewing functions and occasions are also assisting retailers in drawing customers to the category.

Some 81% of customers ages 18-34 and 88% of customers ages 35 and over cited “freshen breath” as their main reason for purchasing gum. A whopping 59% of Millennials listed gum as their top choice to immediately freshen breath, ahead of toothpaste (15%), mints (11%), breath strips (5%) mouthwash (5%), breath spray (3%) and breath drops (2%).

Meanwhile an even greater 68% of c-store customers ages 35 and over selected gum as their breath freshener of choice.

Given customer propensity to reach for gum to freshen breath, MSA recommended positioning gum in high traffic areas of the convenience store, and in a display with other breath freshening products to remind customers of this functional benefit of gum.

Why They Chew
While fresh breath took the lead among gum chewer motivation, customers listed numerous other reasons  that influenced their gum purchase decision. Desiring flavor or taste took the No. 2 slot, with 64% of 18-34 year olds and 67% of customers 35 and older choosing to chew because of the flavor. Other factors included stress reduction, gum’s oral health benefits, and staying alert and focused. Others chewed in place of snacking to manage calories, and some reach for gum during times when they can’t smoke or chew tobacco.
 
Millennials Chewing More
MSA found that 32% of gum buyers buy gum five or more times in a typical month. Compared to last year, 31% are buying more gum. Millennials are driving that growth, as they purchase gum more frequently than older generations and a greater portion have upped their purchases compared to a year ago.

So while gum sales overall may be down according to SOI data, gum customers remain loyal in terms of store visits giving convenience store operators an opportunity to sell them additional items, such as snacks and foodservice.

Customers Favor Mint Gum
Mint, including spearmint and peppermint, overwhelmingly ranks as the gum flavor of choice for customers, with 63% of customers ages 18-34 and 69% of customers 35 and over rating it as their favorite.

Some 28% of 18-34 year-olds and 20% of customers 35 and older liked single fruit and multi-fruit gums, while 9% of 18-34 year olds and 11% customers 35 and older voted for cinnamon.

Gum Purchase Influences
The brand of choice for customers is influenced by a number of factors, lead by the personal recommendations of friends, followed by social media sharing sites, brand Websites and print advertising.

Among customers aged 18-34 years, 28% listed social media as an influencer in their gum purchasing habits compared to 19% of customers ages 35 and above.

Adding Functional Appeal to Gum and Mints

Star Stop Convenience Stores, with 68 locations in Austin and Houston, Texas, has maintained slow, steady gum sales, with customers mostly gravitating toward new products.
In two of its stores, the chain is testing Desert Labs’ Snack Less chewing gum, the first in a new series of products powered by Hoodia parviflora. Hoodia has long been linked to appetite control, creating the same effect on the brain’s hunger regulating mechanism as eating a full meal, but without the calories.

Hoodia parviflora marks the first Hoodia product to gain generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Grown and marketed by Desert Labs, it gives consumers and supplement manufacturers access to the only safe Hoodia on the market. The Snack Less gum aims to reach dieters looking to maintain control over their food cravings. Because the gum has only been on store shelves a couple months, it’s too soon to tell if customers response has been positive.

But with 30% of gum chewers ages 18-34 and 33% of chewers 35 and older buying gum with the intention of consuming “fewer calories than other snacks,” the gum-as-appetite-suppressant innovation has the opportunity to meet a need. It at least shows the way gum manufacturers are looking to add functional benefits to gum to increase the product’s appeal.

Not to be left behind, mints manufacturers are also looking to boost sales with functional benefits. Miracle Mint, for example, boasts energy boosting, appetite curbing potential, as well as the ability to enhance focus and alertness.

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On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA), Teresa Tarantino, executive director of NCSA, announced in a letter the names of the 2013 Candy Hall of Fame inductees.

The following 12 individuals will be inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Tampa, Fla. joining a stellar list of industry leaders who have previously received the honor.

The 2013 honorees are:

Russell Berg, E.A. Berg & Sons, Inc.

Bob Boutin, Knechtel, Inc.

Bob Edelheit, Hanson Faso Sales & Marketing, Inc.

Larry Graham, National Confectioners Association

Pat Huffman, The Warrell Corporation

Mike Koch, Morley Candy Makers/Sanders Candy

Keith McDaniel, Wythe Will Tzetzo, LLC

Michael Rainey, Liberty Orchards

Michael Rosenberg, The Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc.

John Scardina, Eby-Brown Company

Leo Tanis, The Tanis Group

Dennis Witzel, Dennis Witzel Sales & Consulting

The Candy Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of industry leaders from all over the world. Each year, up to 12 inductees are selected from numerous nominations of candy brokers, sales personnel, manufacturers, retail buyers, wholesalers, industry suppliers, retail confectioners and others connected to the confectionary industry. Past inductees include industry legends from the U.S., Brazil, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and England, according to the Candy Hall of Fame Website.

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