Sweets & Snacks Expo to Rotate Between Indianapolis, Las Vegas
The National Confectioners Association‘s Sweets & Snacks Expo will make a historic move to host the premier trade show for the confectionery and snack industries in a rotation between Indianapolis and Las Vegas over the next 10 years. This announcement comes as the show convenes to celebrate 25 years of candy and snack innovation.
Beginning in 2024, the Sweets & Snacks Expo will cycle through a rotation of two years at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, followed by one year at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas until 2032. In May, McCormick Place in Chicago will host the 2022 (May 23-26) and 2023 Sweets and Snacks Expos.
“Indianapolis and Las Vegas are the right fit to meet the growing demand for our show and enable it to continue providing the innovation, insights and connections that the candy and snacks industries want and need,” said John Downs, NCA president and CEO. “This decision is all about the show’s future, and it was driven by our exhibitor and attendee community, for our exhibitor and attendee community.”
The decision to relocate the Sweets & Snacks Expo to Indianapolis and Las Vegas was made after careful deliberation by the Sweets & Snacks Expo Committee, which is chaired by Ferrero/Fannie May Confections Vice President of Sales and Business Development Ed Seibolt, and the NCA Board of Trustees. In 2021, the show relocated to Indianapolis because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We saw great success in Indianapolis during the 2021 Sweets & Snacks Expo, with many attendees expressing a desire to return,” said Seibolt. “Similarly, Las Vegas is an international destination with the facilities and attractions to help the Sweets & Snacks Expo continue to scale. I believe all parties will benefit tremendously from everything our new host cities have to offer.”
The Sweets & Snacks Expo brings together confectionery and snack retailers, manufacturers and suppliers to showcase the latest product innovations. Every year, the show has a significant economic impact on its host city; in 2022, the show is expected to generate $21 million for the city of Chicago.
“It has been a great pleasure engaging with the staff, board, and business members of the National Confectioners Association over the past 18 months and hosting the Sweets & Snacks Expo last June,” said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy. “After the success of the 2021 show under particularly challenging conditions, Indy and the NCA were clearly a natural fit for long-term growth. The 2024 show can’t come soon enough and we look forward to hosting these amazing people and businesses, small and large, for many years to come.”
“We are honored the National Confectioners Association selected Las Vegas as a host city for the Sweets & Snacks Expo,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best candy and snack makers to the destination with an ‘Only Vegas’ experience.”
The full schedule of locations for the Sweets & Snacks Expo over the next decade is as follows. The show will continue to be held in May each year.
- 2022 – McCormick Place in Chicago
- 2023 – McCormick Place in Chicago
- 2024 – Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis
- 2025 – Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis
- 2026 – Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas
- 2027 – Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis
- 2028 – Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis
- 2029 – Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas
- 2030 – Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
- 2031 – Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
- 2032 – Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
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PFG Donates to World Central Kitchen for Ukraine Relief
Virginia-based Performance Food Group Company is donating $50,000 to World Central Kitchen to help support the organization’s Ukraine relief efforts to provide meals to refugees.
Founded by Chef José Andrés, WCK is a nonprofit that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. WCK builds resilient food systems with locally led solutions. PFG has provided support to WCK in the past to help the organization respond to communities dealing with natural disasters like hurricanes and tornados.
“Ever since the situation in Ukraine began, many of us wondered what we can do to help and how can we make the most impact,” said George Holm, PFG’s chairman and CEO. “When we learned WCK was on the ground in eastern Europe providing hot meals to Ukrainians impacted by the current crisis, we were proud to join the international community and support those in need through the inspirational efforts of WCK.”
“World Central Kitchen is grateful for PFG’s support and belief in our mission. They share our belief that a plate of food is more than just nourishment, it’s hope and a sign that someone cares,” said Jason Collis, WCK’s vice president of relief. “Their support will allow us to continue to provide fresh and comforting meals to Ukrainians fleeing their homes as well as those staying in the country.”
Fighting food insecurity and working to strengthen communities have long been a part of PFG’s corporate social responsibility focus. More details can be found in the full report, which is posted on the company’s website under the Corporate Responsibility section at pfgc.com/Corporate-Responsibility.
If your specialty foods industry company is donating money or goods for Ukraine relief, please contact Gourmet News Senior Editor A.J. Flick at aj_f@oser.com.
SpartanNash Ships Critical Supplies for Ukraine Relief
Michigan-based food solutions company SpartanNash has shipped to Europe the first of several containers of critical supplies as part of its $1 million commitment for Ukraine relief. SpartanNash’s military division coordinated the export, which included baby formula, diapers, over-the-counter medicines, sports energy drinks and personal hygiene items.
“Collecting product donations in the U.S. is one thing, but having the international logistic relationships to get them abroad quickly is another,” said SpartanNash President and CEO Tony Sarsam. “International freight shipping is an extremely delicate and intricate specialty, as so many details go into these journeys, and coordinating these shipments is one of SpartanNash’s global supply chain strengths.”
The overseas and rail journey can take up to 50 days, but SpartanNash was able to expedite this shipment to fewer than 17 days, taking a route to get as close to the conflict as safely possible in Warsaw, Poland. SpartanNash partnered with Convoy of Hope to receive and distribute the necessities in the hands of Ukrainians across eastern Europe.
“This is a humanitarian disaster, and SpartanNash is uniquely positioned to support Ukrainians in addition to the American military heroes who are serving on the front lines of this crisis,” Sarsam said. “As a People First company, we look for opportunities to provide aid to those in need whenever we can.”
SpartanNash’s military division distributes grocery products so military commissaries and exchanges can deliver a familiar shopping experience to servicemen and women with their favorite USA brands, providing a touch of home regardless of where they are stationed. The company distributes products to 160 military commissaries and over 400 exchanges located in 39 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Korea and Japan. SpartanNash distribution centers are strategically located among the largest concentration of military bases in the areas the Company serves and near Atlantic ports.
“In any crisis situation, rapid response is vital, and we are glad to partner with SpartanNash to leverage its expertise in global food logistics,” said Ethan Forhetz, vice president of public engagement for Convoy of Hope. “Getting close to a warzone and responding during a crisis is no simple task. We rely on our disaster response experts and local volunteers to deliver hope to the impacted communities.”
This is just the tip of the spear for SpartanNash, which has dozens of additional donation pallets ready to ship overseas. The Company will continue collecting donations from key vendor partners in the U.S. and working closely with the Convoy of Hope team for on-the-ground distribution in impacted areas throughout Europe.
For more information or to donate to Convoy of Hope, visit convoyofhope.org.
If your company in the specialty foods industry is donating for Ukraine relief, email Gourmet News Senior Editor A.J. Flick at aj_f@oser.com to let us know.
