Last updated on June 13th, 2024
The Sweet & Snacks Expo officially opened June 23 as the first trade show to be held in Indianapolis in 2021 and the first food industry trade show in more than a year.
This is the premier trade show for the candy and snack categories and it offers attendees the opportunity to discover new confectionery and snack products, actionable insights and unparalleled access to industry and retail personnel.
“There’s a lot of excitement and pent-up demand for the in-person show this year. With two years of innovation and new products, the resilient treating and snacking categories will be on full display at the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo,” said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association. “We are excited to be working with our partners in the city of Indianapolis to provide the 8,000 retailers, manufacturers, brokers and suppliers in attendance with the opportunity to find inspiration, take part in educational sessions and make meaningful connections with those in the industry they have missed over the past year to 18 months.” 
“We are extremely proud of the work our state has done to safely bring world-class events to Indianapolis like the NCAA Basketball tournament, the Indy 500 – and now the Sweets & Snacks Expo,” Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb said. “This event is a great move forward for our business community to recover. The candy and snack industries have a strong economic footprint in our state, supporting more than 13,000 jobs. What better way to celebrate the great candy and snack companies that call Indiana home than with the Sweets & Snacks Expo in June, which just happens to be National Candy Month.”
The 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo by the numbers:
- 8,000 attendees;
- 450-plus exhibitors;
- 2,890-plus retail attendees;
- 1,750-plus banners across all classes of trade;
- More than 3 acres of candy and snack innovation; and
- $6.3 million economic impact on the city of Indianapolis.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo features Destination Retail, which presents ideas on creating excitement around the four big confectionery sales seasons – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the Winter Holidays – and National Candy Month in June as these incremental sales opportunities continue to grow.
National Candy Month presents the opportunity to bridge the gap between the major holidays in the spring and fall for retailers across the country, and Destination Retail presents the value of this unique opportunity.
Building on the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s legacy of innovation, insights and industry connection, the 2021 show presents two years of product innovation and offers endless inspiration for the year ahead. Check out the new trends unveiled at this year’s show:
- Smaller pack sizes: More companies continue to develop smaller pack sizes containing 200 calories or less. This trend empowers consumers to make informed choices when they are ready to treat themselves to their favorite snack or candy;
- Tropical flavors: So many consumers dream of a day at the beach and enjoying all that summer has to offer. This year, tropical flavors are taking center stage with a focus on pineapple and coconut;
- Mix and match: Candy and snack manufacturers are bringing consumers the best of both worlds. Whether they are looking for sweet, salty, fruity or tart, shoppers can’t go wrong when mixing up their favorite combinations.
- Spice it up: At the Sweets & Snacks Expo, the newest spicy snacks featuring flavors like chili, sriracha, jalapeño and habanero will be on full display.
