To kick off the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo, judges of the Most Innovative New Product Awards unveiled this year’s winners. These awards recognize the most innovative candy and snack products and companies for their achievements and new products introduced to the market over the past two years.
“The Most Innovative New Product Awards continue to highlight the innovation that pushes our industry forward, and we celebrate the creativity that makes the confectionery and snack categories shine,” said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association. “For many consumers, candy and snacks played a central role over the past 18 months in making ordinary moments a little more special, and these new products will make getting back to the things that we love to do this summer even more fun.” 
The submitted products were judged by retail and category thought leaders from retailers like Costco, Walgreen’s and 7-Eleven. The awards attracted more than 300 entries and recognized 55 products in 11 categories as well as Best In Show and Small Business Innovator, which recognize the judges’ favorite product and an up-and-coming innovative company, respectively.
The winners of the Most Innovative New Products Awards are as follows:
- Chocolate: The Hershey Co. – Reese’s Big Cup with Pretzels;
- Non-Chocolate: Mederer U.S.A., Inc. – efrutti Bakery Shoppe Bag;
- Gum & Mints: Perfetti Van Melle USA Inc. – Mentos Gum Paperboard Bottle;
- Salty Snacks: Wonderful Pistachios – Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Sea Salt & Vinegar;
- Sweet Snacks: TruFru LLC – Nature’s Strawberries Hyper-Chilled Frozen Fresh in White Chocolate & Milk Chocolate;
- Meat Snacks: Pure Jerky Co. – Tripi’s Sweet Spicy Original;
- Savory Snacks: Indiana Import LLC – Torti Max;
- Novelty/Licensed – Candy & Snacks: Pez Candy Inc. – Harry Potter Back Pack Clips with Mystery Flavor PEZ Candy;
- Seasonal – Candy & Snacks: Ferrara Candy Co. – Nerds Candy Corn;
- Gourmet/Premium – Candy: TruFru LLC – Nature’s Pineapple Pina Colada Hyper-Chilled Fresh and Immersed in White Chocolate and Coconut;
- Gourmet/Premium – Snacks: Crack Corn – The Original Ultra-Premium Puff Corn;
- Small Business Innovator: BranchOut – Banana Bites; and
- Best in Show: Ferrara Candy Co. – Nerds Gummy Clusters.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo, the premier event for the confectionery and snack industries, is being held June 23-25 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Featuring new product launches, business-building solutions and merchandising innovations, this annual trade show brings together qualified candy and snack retail professionals and company representatives who showcase the latest in candy and snack products. The event is sponsored by the National Confectioners Association.
