We are less than eight weeks away from the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo, and this momentum is bringing a lot of excitement. There continues to be encouraging news from a public health perspective – vaccinations are going strong, and cases continue to decline. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that vaccinated Americans could travel, and Indianapolis is ready to play host to the candy and snack community.
A critical pillar of the candy and snack community is the convenience channel. As we look at the breakdown of retailers attending this year’s show, we are excited to announce that eleven percent of attendees are from the convenience channel – including customers like 7-Eleven, Maverick, RaceTrac, Sheetz and TravelCenters of America. It’s important to note their attendance this year as this channel fueled significant growth for candy, with the category up 12% YTD in 2021.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo is also where attendees will find almost two years’ worth of new products and innovation, even more important given the growth in this channel. Recently, Convenience Store News & Petroleum shared, “Suppliers said they are increasing their emphasis on the convenience channel in 2021. Sixty-three percent said they will boost their investment in the channel.” Additionally, they noted that “product innovation will be their top investment in the channel.” This is just one of the major trends you can learn more about at this year’s show, and as an attendee, you will be able to speak with representatives from these retailers to make meaningful connections.
The Sweets & Snacks Expo will bring the confectionery and snack industries together in Indianapolis from June 23-25, with a special pre-show day on June 22, for a week of education and innovation.
