Before Las Vegas welcomed the beloved industry event, Sweets and Snacks Expo announced the 2026 Most Innovative New Products. This event showcases the most delicious, innovative and popular snack foods, candies, nuts, treats and more. The winners list included both iconic brands and some new options. Ready to start eating?
Every year, the Sweets & Snacks Expo celebrates the best and brightest in this food sector. From iconic chocolate brands to new snack brands, industry insiders, buyers and food commentators fill the trade show hungry to experience it all.
This year, 500 products vied for a spot on the 2026 Most Innovative New Products list. Over the years, the list created food trends, celebrated innovations and predicted what consumers would be buying.
Speaking about this year’s group, John Downs, president & CEO of the National Confectioners Association, the host organization for Sweets & Snacks Expo commented, “The Most Innovative New Product Awards celebrate the creativity, ingenuity and consumer-focused innovation that continue to move the confectionery and snack industries forward. With a record number of entries this year, the 2026 finalists and winners demonstrate how brands are responding to evolving consumer preferences and creating opportunities for innovative treating.”
What are the 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards winners?
According to Sweets & Snacks Expo, the 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards winners are:
- Powerhouse Candy: WARHEADS Loud Mouth Bites | CandyRific
- Powerhouse Snack: Dot’s Snack Mix | The Hershey Company
- Trailblazer Candy: Mochi Gummies – Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry | Issei
- Trailblazer Snack: Raspberry Rose (Beauty + Glow) Popcorn | Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn
- Chocolate: Alli & Rose Strawberry Moochies | CAL Marketing
- Gourmet/Premium Confections: Freeze Dried Milk + White Chocolate Strawberries | Tru Fru
- Gum & Mints: Bubbilicious Gummy Gum – Strawberry Orange | Perfetti Van Melle
- Gummy Candy: Squashies Sours – Cherry & Apple | Smarties
- Non-Chocolate Candy: Sour Tiniez | Rotten
- Novelty/Licensed: Mashups Candy Salad Kit | 1UP Candy
- Seasonal: Brach’s Crunchy Chewy Jelly Beans | Ferrara
- Meat Snacks: Cinnabon Bakery Inspired Flavored – Bacon Jerky | Wicked Cutz
- Salty Snacks: Cholula Hot Sauce Flavored Tortilla Chips | Xochitl, Inc.
- Savory Snacks: Everything Bagel Pretzels | Promise Confections / Edward Marc Brands
- Sweet Snacks: Nutella Ice Cream Cones | Ferrero North America
- Baked Goods: Strawberry Milkshake Cookie | The Graceful Cooki
Overall, strawberry is a leading flavor trend. It is more than just a simple strawberry flavor or freeze dried fruit. It is the combination of chocolate and other fruit that transform the familiar fruit into a more exciting treat.
Specifically, the Bubbilicious Gummy Gum – Strawberry Orange is the most interesting. Putting those two fruit flavors together is not common, but it is one that could inspire a myriad of desserts, beverages and more.
In some ways, these winning products are more than must buy items. They encourage people to explore flavors and ingredients. That craving extends to a wide range of food items and keeps people coming back for more.
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