INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Sweets & Snacks Expo announced today winners of multiple industry awards at the Indiana Convention Center ahead of the show opening. These awards are highly regarded within the industry and carry with them special recognition of the recipients.

“There is no better way to usher in the excitement of this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo than by recognizing the best our industry has to offer,” John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association, said. “This year, innovation and dedication to creating the best products and shopper experience take center stage as we celebrate our suppliers, brokers, manufacturers and retail partners.”

The Ruby Award for Supplier Innovation is given annually to recognize a breakthrough innovation from the supplier member community that advances the confectionery industry and significantly improves the ability of confectioners to manufacture, distribute, market and/or sell chocolate and candy. A panel of NCA manufacturing member companies reviews the applications and selects the award recipient each year.

For the first time in the award’s history, this year the award was presented to two winners:

  • Mantrose-Haeuser Co., Inc. – MantroShield
    Winning Innovation: MantroShield’s concept delivers the sour taste impact of organic acids, with enough protection to allow its use in confectionery, but without the negative aspects of common encapsulation processes.
  • Schubert Additive Solutions – Partbox
    Winning Innovation: With Partbox, spare parts can be provided to companies in the confectionery industry much faster than before. Partbox uses 3D printing technology to produce spare parts directly inside the factories of the confectionery industry. With Partbox, spare parts don’t have to be stored physically. Through the optimized process, companies can save time and money in the ordering process of spare parts. Partbox enables a high availability of spare parts without storing them.

The Golden Candy Dish Award is presented to a broker industry member who has performed above and beyond the call of business to promote and grow the confectionery industry. The individual is selected based on the candidate’s leadership skills and ability to build relationships and cultivate new business opportunities with confectionery manufacturers. This year we also focused on their versatility and perseverance through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 Golden Dish Award Winner is Doug Boes, Shankman & Associates.

The Silver Candy Dish Award is presented to a leader in sales, marketing, management or another key role in confectionery manufacturing who has made significant contributions to growing the confectionery category. The individual is selected based on the candidate’s leadership skills and ability to build relationships and cultivate new business opportunities with brokers. This year we also focused on their versatility and perseverance through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The 2021 Silver Candy Dish Award Winner is Katherine Phegley, Brown & Haley. 

Woman of Influence Award – The National Confectioners Association presented the first-ever Woman of Influence Award to highlight a recipient who has performed above and beyond the call of duty in service of the industry. The recipient of this award is selected by the National Confectioners Association’s Women’s Leadership Group. 

The 2021 Woman of Influence Award Winner is Libby Taylor, who previously served as Vice President of Membership. Taylor joined the association in 1993 and pioneered the National Confectioners Association’s signature events, including the Sweets & Snacks Expo launch in 1997.  

To set up an interview with a Sweets & Snacks Expo spokesperson, please email Carly Schildhaus (carly.schildhaus@CandyUSA.com).

Please visit the official Sweets & Snacks Expo Media Kit for more information on the show and media resources.

###

About Sweets & Snacks Expo
The Sweets & Snacks Expo is the premier event for the confectionery and snack industries. 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. Learn more at SweetsAndSnacks.com.

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA):
The National Confectioners Association is the leading trade organization for the U.S. confectionery industry, which generates $42 billion in retail sales each year. NCA advocates for an environment that enables candy makers to thrive and works to ensure that chocolate, candy, gum and mints are celebrated for their contributions to culture, society, the economy and everyday moments of joy. The industry employs nearly 58,000 workers in more than 1,600 manufacturing facilities across all 50 states and supports an additional 635,000 jobs in related fields. The U.S. confectionery industry has made a commitment to increasing transparency, providing more portion guidance options and educating consumers about the role of confectionery in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Learn more at CandyUSA.com or follow NCA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.