To kick off the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo, judges of the Most Innovative New Product Awards unveiled this year's winners. These highly competitive 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," John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association, said. "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 leading 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 Company – 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 Company – 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
Best in Show: Ferrara Candy Company – Nerds Gummy Clusters
