Last week, the Sweets & Snacks Expo took over McCormick Place in Chicago for the final time before it calls Indianapolis it’s home starting next year, 2024. From May 23-25, thousands of manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, brokers, and exhibitors filled the halls to see what exciting innovations are coming to the sweets and snacks aisles. We … Read more 6 Takeaways from Sweets & Snacks 2023
Key Takeaways: Consumers are becoming more health and values-oriented, and are willing to pay a premium for products that align with their values. Functional ingredients, which provide a specific health or nutritional benefit, are increasingly popular among consumers. Snacking is one category that has seen a lot of innovation in the functional ingredients space. Values-oriented … Read more The Rise of Values-Oriented Consumers: How Functional Ingredients are Shaping the Snacks Category
Last week, the 2023 edition of Natural Products Expo West brought the natural industry together in Anaheim for an exciting week of education, conversations, product showcases, and—most importantly—sampling. With more than 65,000 registered attendees and 3,000 exhibitors across 5 days and multiple halls, Expo West reminded everyone why it is the event of the year … Read more 8 Takeaways from Expo West 2023
Perhaps no ingredient is more synonymous with Valentine’s Day than chocolate. While chocolate lovers indulge in this sweet treat year-round, February 14 gives them an extra reason to enjoy even more chocolate bars and chocolate-covered treats. (Even if you don’t buy into the romance aspect of the day, it’s still a good time to visit … Read more 9 Chocolate Products for Every Chocolate Lover
8 Emerging Trends We Saw on the Show Floor Each fall, Expo East brings together the best of the natural industry: pioneering brands, innovative products, trend-setting retailers, and top suppliers. This year was no different. After a successful return to an in-person event in 2021, this year’s show was bigger and proved that Expo East … Read more Expo East 2022 Recap: The Top Trends and Exciting Products
The Sweets & Snacks Expo made its return to Chicago for the first time since 2019—just in time to celebrate its 25th anniversary. From May 24-26, thousands of manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, brokers, and exhibitors (and a plenty of fun mascots) filled McCormick place to see what exciting innovation is coming to the sweets and snacks … Read more Sweets & Snacks 2022: 7 Trends We Saw at the Expo
Help Customers Adapt to Shifting Prices As a retailer, you can’t ignore the reality that higher prices are having on your customers. Prices are increasing across industries, and we’re already seeing proof in the VMS aisle. They are stressed—coming off two unusually stressful years—and reprioritizing their expenses. Outside of the store, inflation is an inescapable … Read more How Retailers Can Respond to Inflation Concerns
Omnichannel Data Gives Insight Into the Snacks Category Shoppers are buying their favorite snacks in brick-and-mortar stores and online—thanks to technology, busy lives, and pandemic habits. Chips, cookies, snack bars, trail mix, candy, dips, rice cakes—you name it. Whether they’re working at home or at the office, heading to the gym, or watching a movie, … Read more Snacking Remains Popular With Shoppers Online and In-Store
As SPINS’ Marketing Data Analyst and Trade Show Insider, Scott covers the latest trends and insights within the Health and Wellness Industry. As we wrap up The Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis, the first in-person trade show SPINS attended in over a year and half, we can reflect on what has happened and where we are going from here. The … Read more 5 Takeaways From The Sweets & Snacks Expo 2021
Plant-Based Choices in Every Aisle Plant-based diets might not be new, but you couldn’t tell that from looking at store shelves. Over the last few years, innovation and customer demand have moved the category beyond the longtime staples (i.e., plant-based meats and milk alternatives) and into a variety of new plant-based offerings across the entire store. Throughout 2021, innovative plant-based brands will greet wellness-focused … Read more Plant-Based Trends in Every Department: 7 Innovations to Watch for in 2021