The National Confectioners Association’s inaugural “Getting to Know Gum and Mint Consumers 2025” report found that gum and mints account for 13 percent of all confectionery sales. Generational turnovers are reshaping subcategories, with Millennial and Gen Z consumers driving virtually all growth in gum and mints, according to the report. As such, total gum and […]
Category: Snacks Brands
Snack news for grocery retailers: new items, brand news, sales trends and merchandising for salty snacks, candy and more.
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Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, National, News
Registration Open For 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo
Registration for the 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo – set for May 19-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas – is open for all attendees. The annual show gathers thought leaders and industry experts to share and gain insights, connect with fellow professionals and drive the candy and snack industries forward. “Sweets […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, Finance News, National, News
Winter Holidays Drive Chocolate, Candy Sales As Seasonal Traditions Endure
The winter holiday season remains the most important sales period of the year for chocolate and candy, driven by strong consumer traditions around gifts, entertaining and everyday indulgence, according to new data and seasonal insights from the National Confectioners Association (NCA). NCA research shows that 95 percent of Americans celebrate with chocolate and candy across […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Finance News, National, News
Mars Receives Final Approval for $36B Kellanova Acquisition
Mars Inc. received approval from the European Commission Dec. 8 for its acquisition of Kellanova, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for the $36 billion deal. The companies anticipate closing the transaction Dec. 11. The European Commission’s approval was the last of 28 required regulatory clearances. Kellanova shareholders approved the transaction on Nov. 1, 2024, following the […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, National, News
NCSA Elects Three New Members To Board Of Directors
The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA) has elected three industry leaders to its board of directors. Cody Heinz with Bell Flavors & Fragrances joins the board for the first time; Peter Kempton Jr. of b.a. Sweetie Candy Company has been re-elected for a second three-year term; and Brandon Sagotz from Ferrara Candy Co. returns after […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, Grocery Research, National, News
Winter Holiday Confectionery Demand Remains Strong, NCA Reports
According to a new survey from the National Confectioners Association (NCA), 95 percent of Americans plan to celebrate the winter holidays with chocolate and candy, reflecting the category’s continued strength as a holiday staple. The “big four” seasonal moments – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays – remain key for the $54 billion […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, National
Mars, Hershey Roll Out Seasonal Candy Lineups With New Innovations, Returning Favorites
Mars and Hershey release 2025 holiday candy lineups featuring new seasonal items including M&M’S Winter Blend, TWIX Snowmen and Hershey’s Kisses Snickerdoodle Cookie.
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News, Snacks Brands
NCA Adds Moss, Brandmeier To Scientific-Regulatory Affairs Team
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has added Julie Moss as VP of food safety and scientific affairs and Sarah Brandmeier as director of nutrition policy and scientific affairs. According to the association, their experience across federal agencies and the food industry will help the $54 billion confectionery industry navigate a complex regulatory landscape. “It is […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News, Packaging News, Snacks Brands
Lay’s Potato Chips Begins Brand Redesign With New Packaging, Recipes
Lay’s Potato Chips, a PepsiCo brand, has begun the largest redesign in its nearly 100-year history, aiming to showcase how its chips are made with real potatoes and announce it is removing artificial flavors and colors in the U.S. Lay’s works with more than 100 family-owned farms across North America, and PepsiCo sources crops and […]
Posted inGrocery Research, National, News, Snacks Brands
Report: 81% Of Consumers Plan To Purchase Halloween Candy
Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space, has released a Halloween report, sourced from verified purchase data and a sentiment survey of more than 5,000 consumers on their fourth quarter 2025 holiday intentions. Overall, more than half (56 percent) of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween, with participation higher among Gen Z […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, News, Northeast
Utz Brands To Upgrade Campus In Hanover, PA
Utz Brands Inc. is planning a multi-phase project aimed at upgrading facilities across its campus in Hanover, Pennsylvania. The following investments will begin in the coming months: Utz Employee Hub: Construction will begin in 2026 to upgrade Utz’s headquarters at 900 High St. and transform it into a modern Utz Employee Hub. Teams working across […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, News, Northeast
Utz Brands To Eliminate FD&C Colors From Products By 2027
Utz Brands Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, has issued the following statement regarding the removal of certified Food, Drug and Cosmetic (“FD&C”) colors from its product portfolio: “Since 1921, Utz Brands Inc. has been committed to making snacks with quality, transparency and simple, trusted ingredients. As consumer tastes and government regulatory initiatives […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Feature, National, News
Hershey Expands Innovation With New Flavors, Formats And Technology
Hershey is keeping its focus on consumer demand with a lineup of new innovations across confections, snacks and better-for-you products. Lindsay McCabe, manager of corporate communications and brand PR for Hershey, recently spoke with The Shelby Report about some new offerings from the company. “One area that we were missing within our confection space was […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, News, West
Wonderful Makes Confectionary Debut With Chocolate-Covered Pistachios
Wonderful Pistachios has introduced two new products, Chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee, marking its debut in the confectionery category. Chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee feature Wonderful Pistachios’ California-grown roasted pistachios, dipped in dark chocolate made with 50 percent cacao. “Consumers are increasingly looking for snacks that hit the sweet spot, literally and nutritionally,” […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, National, News
Survey: Cheez-It, Pringles Are Favorite Road Trip Snacks
Americans rank Cheez-It and Pringles in their top favorite snack brands for summer road trips, according to a new survey from Kellanova on the snacking preferences of 2,000 U.S. adults who had recently gone on or plan to go on a road trip. “With the summer road trip season kicking off, we wanted to find out what people love to munch […]
Posted inExecutive News, National, News, Snacks Brands
The Hershey Co. Names Next President, CEO
The Hershey Company has appointed Kirk Tanner to succeed Michele Buck as president and CEO, effective Aug. 18. Buck, who announced her intention to retire from the company at the beginning of this year, will work with Tanner in a senior advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition. “I am thrilled to see Kirk step into the […]
Posted inBakery News, National, News, Snacks Brands
The J.M. Smucker Co. To Remove FD&C Colors
The J.M. Smucker Co. has committed to remove FD&C colors from all consumer food products by the end of 2027. While the majority of the company’s consumer foods are already free of FD&C colors, this removal will impact its sugar-free fruit spreads and ice cream toppings as well as certain products from its Hostess brand portfolio. […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Midwest, News
The J.M. Smucker Co. To Close Indianapolis Manufacturing Facility
The J.M. Smucker Co. plans to shutter its facility in Indianapolis that manufactures products from the company’s Hostess brand and consolidate operations into other facilities. The timeline for closure and sale of the facility is early 2026. “This decision continues the ongoing work to ensure our manufacturing network is optimized to mitigate costs and reduce […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, National, News
Wonderful Pistachios Launches Campaign In Advance Of Record Nut Season
Los Angeles-based Wonderful Pistachios has launched its new marketing campaign, “The Don’t Hold Back Snack.” Designed to drive demand in anticipation of a record-setting California pistachio harvest this fall, the campaign features the message: “Wonderful Pistachios is the craveable snack that’s too good to be ‘good’ for you.” Through five new advertising spots directed by […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Midwest, News
Jackson’s Introduces Super Veggie Straw At Sweets & Snacks Expo
Jackson’s is entering a new snack category with the debut of Jackson’s Super Veggie Straws. Debuted at the 2025 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis, the new product marks Jackson’s entrance into the veggie straw category, bringing an extruded straw made with real food ingredients, better oil and bold flavor seasonings. At a time when traditional salty […]