This year, Junk Banter had the pleasure of attending the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago from May 23-25. It’s the largest annual trade focused exclusively on candy and snacks. Over 17,000 attendees gathered this year to put on weight as fast as they possibly could.

For exhibitors, the Sweets & Snacks Expo is a chance for the new guys to pitch their blossoming snack business and a chance for the big players to promote their newest creations. For most attendees (buyers, merchandisers, executives), it’s a chance to scout products that could generate profit for them. For the media? It’s like going to Costco, not buying anything, and eating samples for 72 hours straight.

Guess who counts as media somehow? ?

Featured below are tons of my most exciting finds from the Expo. I didn’t get all the info on when these would release because I was too busy shoving my face, but just know that they’re coming:

Reese’s Popped Snack Mix

Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme Popped Snack Mix

Hershey’s Popped Snack Mix

Item: Reese’s Popped Snack Mix & Hershey’s Popped Snack Mix
When: Soon
Thoughts: Sweet & salty goodness with candy, popcorn, pretzels, and nuts.

Reese’s Dipped Pretzels

Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme Dipped Pretzels

Hershey’s Dipped Pretzels

Item: Reese’s Dipped Pretzels & Hershey’s Dipped Pretzels made with Synder’s of Hanover
When: Very Soon
Thoughts: Way to pull, Snyder’s!

Item: Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Chipotle Ranch
When: Now! (Limited edition)
Thoughts: ?

White Pumpkin Pie M&M’s

Triple Chocolate M&M’s

Item: White Pumpkin Pie M&M’s and Triple Chocolate M&M’s
When: Fall 2017 for White Pumpkin Pie and Valentine’s Day 2017 for Triple Chocolate M&M’s
Thoughts: Only the media got these. ?

Doritos Crunch Nuts

Doritos Crunch Mix

Item: Doritos Crunch Nuts & Doritos Crunch Mix
When: Fall(ish) 2017
Thoughts: The name “Crunch Nuts” makes me cringe. In my pants.

Hostess Chocolate Peanut Butter Twinkies

Hostess Peppermint Twinkies

Item: Hostess Chocolate Peanut Butter Twinkies & Hostess Peppermint Twinkies
When: July 2017 for Chocolate Peanut Butter, Winter 2017 for Peppermint
Thoughts: Made with real peanut butter, so it must be organic. Same with that blood red cake.

 

Item: Jelly Belly Krispy Kreme Jelly Beans
When: Later this year.
Thoughts: The flavors are cinnamon apple filled, strawberry iced, original glazed, glazed blueberry cake, and chocolate iced with sprinkles. All taste better than their new Bamboozled flavor: Minion Fart.

Item: Krispy Kreme Coffee Spread (Caramel Macchiato)
When: No idea.
Thoughts: Finally, caffeinated bagels!

Item: Snappers (Caramel Macchiato)
When: Forgot to ask
Thoughts: Finally, caffeinated pretzels!

Lindt LINDOR Gingerbread Truffles

Lindt LINDOR Blueberries & Cream Truffles

Item: Lindt LINDOR Gingerbread Truffles and Lindt LINDOR Blueberries & Cream Truffles
When: Winter 2017 on Gingerbread and I THINK Valentine’s Day 2018 for Blueberries & Cream.
Thoughts: The Gingerbread uses milk chocolate and the Blueberries & Cream uses white chocolate.

Item: Oreo Cookies & Creme Candy Canes
When: Christmas 2017
Thoughts: I can’t wait for the mint version of these!

Hammond’s Fortune Cookie Chocolate Bar

Hammond’s Cinnamon Churro Chocolate Bar

Hammond’s Midnight Snack Chocolate Bar

Item: Hammond’s Chocolate Bars (Fortune Cookie, Cinnamon Churro, Midnight Snack)
When: No idea 2017.
Thoughts: These all sound like Midnight Snack to me.

Item: Fruit Gushers Flavors Mixers & Fruit Gushers Sour
When: Now-ish
Thoughts: Having Gushers in your 4th grade lunch box is how I determined if you were cool or not.

Kettle Brand Spicy Queso Chips

Kettle Brand Chile Verde Chips

Item: Kettle Brand Spicy Queso Chips & Kette Brand Chile Verde Chips
When: Not Sure
Thoughts: The Spicy Queso chips are amazing and the Chile Verde chips are not Spicy Queso.

Item: Campfire Birthday Cake Marshmallows
When: Summer 2017
Thoughts: Commence birthday cake s’mores!

Item: Birthday Cake Red Vines
When: Rolling out now
Thoughts: Commence birthday cake straws!

Item: Brach’s Cookie Candy Corn
When: Who cares?
Thoughts: Who cares? It’s candy corn.

Enlightened Crispy Marshmallow Treats (Original)	Enlightened Crispy Marshmallow Treats (Double Chocolate)
Enlightened Crispy Marshmallow Treat (Birthday Cake)	Enlightened Crispy Marshmallow Treat (Apple Cinnamon)

Item: Enlightened Crispy Marshmallow Treats
When: Roughly right now at GNC
Thoughts: Because fitness people need to have fun too.

Item: Moose Munch Buncha Crunch & Moose Munch Butterfinger Popcorn
When: This year sometime
Thoughts: “Moose Munch Buncha Crunch” is the most fun thing to say.

Item: New Project 7 Gourmet Gummies (Mojito Mambo, Moscow Mule, Sour Caramel Apple)
When: Later 2017
Thoughts: Go home, Project 7… you’re drunk.

Item: Jolly Time Confetti Cake & Jolly Time Belgian Waffle Popcorn
When: Any day now.
Thoughts: There’s also a Snickerdoodle and another flavor that I can’t remember.

Mrs. Thinster’s Cookie Thins (Key Lime Pie)

Mrs. Thinster’s Cookie Thins (Coconut Chip)

Item: Mrs. Thinster’s Cookie Thins (Key Lime Pie & Coconut Chip)
When: Probably soon!
Thoughts: I bet she’s not that thin anymore.

WELP I hope you enjoyed some of the pictures of food I took with my iPhone at the Sweet & Snacks Expo.

Bye!

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