Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cups Takes Best in Show at Sweets & Snacks Expo

What new products are rocking the world of candy and snacks? Here are the 2016 Most Innovative New Product Award winners.

On May 24th in Chicago at theSweets & Snacks Expo, a sweet celebration was held to honor the 2016 Most Innovative New Product Award winners. Our own Phil Lempert led the panel of industry experts in evaluating the 300 product entries (not a bad job!), and then nominated 45 of the tastiest treats across nine candy and snack categories as finalists.

The panel was looking for candies and snacks that show the most creativity and innovation. And some submissions showed impressive advancements in packaging as well as messaging that encourages consumers to be smart about their snacking. 

And the winners are….

Best in show winner:The Hershey Company - Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Cups

Chocolate winner: Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. – Grand Ferrero Rocher
Nominees: 
MARS Chocolate North America – DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut - Raspberry & Honey Roasted Almond 
MARS Chocolate North America – DOVE® Chocolate Fruit & Nut - Strawberry & Cocoa Almond
R.M. Palmer Company – You're Jawsome 
The Hershey Company – Hershey's Brookside Dark Chocolate Tablet Bar Blueberry Almond Acai Flavor

Non-chocolate winner: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company – Starburst® Gummies®
Nominees:
Ferrara Candy Co. – Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears 
Ferrara Candy Co. – Black Forest Organic Sour Heads
Just Born, Inc. – HOT TAMALES® Licorice Bites
Perfetti Van Melle USA Inc. – Airheads Xtremes Sourfuls

Sweet snacks winner: Alli & Rose, LLC – Half Dips Dark Chocolate Mango
Nominees: 
Alli & Rose, LLC – Crispy Coconut Rolls Dipped in Dark Chocolate
Brownie Brittle, LLC. – Organic Pretzel & Dark Chocolate Brownie Brittle
DeMet's Candy Company – FLIPZ Caramel Sea Salt Chocolate Covered Pretzels 
Golden Cannoli – The Original Cannoli Chips

Salty snacks winner: Naturally Homegrown Foods Ltd – Hardbite "18 CARROT GOLD" Carrot Chips
Nominees:
Beanfields Snacks – Beanfields Jalapeño Nacho Bean and Rice Chips
Caribe Producers – Hatfield & McCoy Bacon Jerky Spicy Revenge
Jack Link's Beef Jerky – Small Batch Maple Bacon Jerky
Popchips, Inc. – popchips® Ridges

Savory snacks winner: Temple Lifestyle – Hungry Buddha Smokin' Sriracha Coconut Chips
Nominees:  
Alli & Rose, LLC – Broccoli Florets 
Alli & Rose, LLC – Onion Chips
Perky Jerky – Brewmasters Pale Ale Turkey Perky Jerky
TUTY USA, LLC – RETRO-NUTS SRIRACHA

Novelty/licensed winner: Dippin' Dots Ice-Cream – Dippin' Dots Redberry Sherbet with Sour Patch Kids
Nominees:
Boncho Boncha Corporation – Selfie Candy 
Boston America Corp – Bug Tape
Jelly Belly Candy Co. – BATMAN™ Grab & Go Bag
Kokos Confectionery & Novelty – Squeezy Squirt Pop

Seasonal winner: DeMet's Candy Company – TURTLES® Eggs
Nominees:
Ferrara Candy Co. – Trolli Sour Brite Trees
Jelly Belly Candy Co. – Jelly Belly Naughty or Nice BeanBoozled Spinner Gift Box
The Hershey Company – Hershey's Candy Corn Crème Bar
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company – Starburst® Ice Cream Jellybeans

Gourmet/premium winner: Jelly Belly Candy Co. – Organic Jelly Beans 
Nominees:
Bare Snacks – bare Baked Crunchy Cinnamon Banana Chips
Brown & Haley – Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter MOUNTAIN THINS
Little Secrets – Toasted Coconut 
Thanasi Foods – Duke's Hatch Green Chile Smoked "SHORTY" Sausages

Gum & Mints Winner: Bazooka Candy Brands – Bazooka Sugar-Free To Go Cup
Nominees:
Mondelez International – Stride Revolution Melo Peach 
Mondelez International – Stride Revolution Spearmint
Project 7 – Project 7 Build a Flavor Smores Pack
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company – Orbit® White