Candy IndustryCandy Industry News
2020 Sweets & Snacks Expo looking for speakers
NCA event attracts more than 90 percent of the confectionery buying market and more than 75 percent of the snack buying market.
By Crystal Lindell
The Sweets & Snacks Expo is seeking speakers for its 2020 event, slated for May 19-21 at Chicago's McCormick Place.
The event, which is hosted by the National Confectioners Association, welcomes more than 90 percent of the confectionery buying market and more than 75 percent of the snack buying market, has featured past speakers from major companies like IBM, Google, Hershey, Mars Wrigley, Walgreens, Mintel, Euromonitor, IRI and more.
"The show's exceptional atmosphere of candy and snack category learning and collaboration is exclusive to the Sweets & Snacks Expo and cannot be replicated elsewhere," said John Downs, president & CEO of the NCA. "During the Sweets & Snacks Expo, speakers are able to present their research, insights and predictions on a world-class stage in front of thousands of industry leaders eager to expand and improve their companies and our shared industry."
The Sweets & Snacks Expo is seeking experts to deliver relevant insights and solutions for the following topics relevant to candy and snacks:
E-commerce sales and shopper behavior across all major online retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Candy.com, etc.)
Industry implications and potential applications for click and collect, frictionless checkout and home delivery
New technologies in on-shelf merchandising and aisle reinvention
The latest shopping behaviors of each generation of consumers (Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, Silent)
Domestic and international flavor trends
Shopping trends and best practices in retailing around core confectionery seasons (Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Winter Holidays, etc.)
Summer merchandising opportunities and fostering summer as the fifth core confectionery season
Novelty candy and licensing segments, including best practices for retailers
The opportunities and challenges of buying local
Activating influencers to build a brand
The store of the future/creating excitement in the candy and snack aisles
Opportunities to support shoppers' emotional well-being
The state of the industry and future prospects for treating and snacking
Sustainability implications and opportunities for confections and snacks
Winning consumer loyalty with transparency
Lessons for entrepreneurs, particularly concerning bringing an innovation to market
Other topics relevant to confections, snacks and specialty products
Selected speakers must have experience presenting their insights to large groups in plain language. Speakers should provide insights backed by relevant facts and research, precise implications and opportunities for category decision makers and recommendations for leaders to drive category expansion.
Speakers will receive a number of benefits including:
Complimentary admission to the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which includes access to the four-acre Expo floor and dozens of learning opportunities and networking events
Consideration to be included in the Expo's summer-long Unwrapped webinar series, allowing speakers to expand on their presentation to hundreds of attendees with a second industry touch point
Unmatched exposure and networking opportunities with industry leaders, including CEOs, brokers and senior brand representatives.
Prominent display in all Expo marketing materials dedicated to raising speaker profile and building excitement around speaker events
Proposals are due no later than August 30, 2019. To submit a proposal, potential speakers should visit SweetsAndSnacks.com/call-for-speakers.
KEYWORDS: NCA Sweets and Snacks Expo
Crystal Lindell, Former editor-in-chief of Candy Industry Magazine. While here she has worked on Candy Industry Magazine, Food Engineering Magazine and Food Safety Strategies. She holds a master's degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois – Springfield and a bachelor's degree in political science from Western Illinois University. And her favorite breakfast is a cup of espresso and Twix bar.
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