The National Confectioners Association, Washington, says it will enlarge the Sweets & Snacks Expo in 2016, May 24-26 at Chicago's McCormick Place, because of the overwhelming growth and innovation taking place within the confectionery and snack industry over the past five years.
The NCA says the expansion will include the debut an additional hall called the Skyline Hall, which will house more than 130 new companies, with the total exhibitor count expected to grow by nearly 20 percent.
The new Skyline hall will also offer expanded opportunities for education, insights, innovations and networking. “The Sweets & Snacks Expo has become the industry's proven destination where attendees gain the best access to the companies, products, people and insights they need to grow their business,” notes Barry Rosenbaum, Expo chairman and president of Nassau Candy Distributors, Inc. “Managing the growth of the Expo over the past several years has allowed us to deliberately and carefully plan for additional exhibit space, new educational offerings and more networking opportunities.”
Located across the concourse on the same level as the current West hall the addition of the Skyline Hall will feature not only more companies, but also the latest emerging industry trends, including the expanded “Innovation Avenue.”
Along with containing a second knowledge center specializing in tracks on snacking, specialty trends and the newest consumer and shopping trends, the Most Innovative New Products Awards Showcase & Ceremony will be also located in the new hall. Visitors will also get a chance to experience the awards showcase, which highlights the top 45 new items deemed to have potential to become best sellers, and then vote electronically via the event app on their favorite.
"The Expo’s evolution into the largest candy and snack global event allows us to offer even more reasons for attendees to return each year," notes Larry Wilson, the NCA's vice president of industry affairs. "We hold an unprecedented 98-percent loyalty rating in terms of the Expo's business value to attendees."
