CHICAGO -- Nearly 20,000 attendees taste-tested more than 2,000 new sweet treats and savory snacks at the National Confectioners Association's (NCA) 2007 All Candy Expo, which ended yesterday in Chicago.
Snacks joined the expo for the first time in the annual trade show's history, making it the largest snack, cookie and confectionery show in North America, according to the NCA.
By expanding to include the snack category, and attracting a record number of nearly 500 exhibitors to the show, the 11th annual expo outgrew [image-nocss] its old home in McCormick Place's Lakeside Center and debuted in the all new West Building expansion. The move increased the show floor from 300,000 to 450,000 square feet, making it nearly three football fields larger.
Industry research indicates that nearly 90% of confectionery buyers also purchase related snack categories, which is why the expo has expanded to include the snack category. Now, we truly are a one-stop shop for retailers and buyers alike, said NCA president Larry Graham. The most highly anticipated candy and snack show of the year, the All Candy Expo unveils an innovative pipeline of new products that will dominate the marketplace in 2007 and 2008.
Showcasing products from more than 75 countries, the All Candy Expo brings together emerging international trends for three days of flavor experimentation and exploration. Those trends include:
Flavor Fusions---To keep pace with the adventurous American palate, flavors are going to the extreme. New multi-dimensional flavor combinations debut including cool mints and gums paired with sweet fruits or dark chocolate paired with spicy chilies and gourmet ganaches.
Back to its Roots---Single-origin chocolates are putting the gourmet chocolate trend on the map with luxurious compositions originating from fine cocoa beans grown in exotic equatorial locales like Venezuela, Tanzania and Ghana.
Healthful and Helpful---For the increasingly health conscious, confections and snacks are harnessing the benefits of immune boosting antioxidants, energy enhancing extracts, and healthful vitamins and probiotics.
The More You Know---Many manufacturers now are focusing on providing consumers with healthful and helpful information about the foods they enjoy. From labeling the cacao content of chocolate creations to using all natural ingredients in jelly beans, hard candies and chocolate bars, consumers are armed with knowledge in every bite size sweet treat.
Founded in 1884 in Chicago by representatives of 69 confectionery manufacturing firms, the National Confectioners Association is one of the oldest trade associations in the world. Today NCA has more than 600 members and is the major association representing the entire confectionery industry, offering education and leadership in manufacturing, technical research, public relations, retailing practices, government relations and statistical analyses. NCA fosters industry growth by advancing and promoting the interests of the confectionery industry and its consumers.
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