A Taste of Tomorrow: Your Guide to the Sweets & Snacks Expo, Indianapolis!

Indianapolis – a city renowned for its Hoosier hospitality, thriving culinary scene, and status as a major convention hub in the heart of America. It’s here, in this welcoming Midwestern city, that the confectionery and snack industries converge for their most anticipated annual event: the Sweets & Snacks Expo. This isn’t just a trade show; it’s the definitive marketplace where the biggest brands and the most exciting startups unveil the future of indulgence and convenience. Imagine stepping into a vast, bustling convention hall, enveloped in the delightful aroma of chocolate, savory spices, and freshly baked goods, amidst the enthusiastic chatter of thousands of industry leaders, innovators, and buyers. This is your unparalleled opportunity to sample groundbreaking new products, discover cutting-edge packaging solutions, explore the latest consumer trends, and forge invaluable connections that will sweeten your business success. For retailers, wholesalers, distributors, brokers, and anyone involved in bringing deliciousness to consumers, the Sweets & Snacks Expo is not merely an option—it’s an essential annual event for staying ahead of the curve, finding profound inspiration, and cultivating unparalleled growth in today’s fiercely competitive market.

The confectionery and snack industries are in a constant state of delicious evolution. Consumers are increasingly seeking out a diverse range of products – from healthier-for-you options and functional snacks to globally inspired flavors and nostalgic comfort foods. The market demands innovation in ingredients, packaging, and marketing strategies. The Sweets & Snacks Expo serves as the ultimate barometer for these shifts, unveiling new product launches, showcasing revolutionary solutions, and providing a platform for critical knowledge exchange. It’s where emerging brands gain vital exposure, and established companies redefine their strategies for capturing market share. If you’re looking to diversify your product portfolio, source unique treats, understand evolving consumer preferences for impulse purchases, optimize your merchandising, or simply immerse yourself in the passionate community of sweets and snacks professionals, attending the Sweets & Snacks Expo offers an unmatched opportunity to learn, discover, and propel your business to new heights.

The Crossroads of Indulgence: Venue and Time

The Sweets & Snacks Expo strategically selects world-class convention facilities, ensuring an authentic and enriching experience for all attendees.

Indy’s Premier Center: The Venue For 2025, the Sweets & Snacks Expo was held at the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The address for the ICC is 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. The Indiana Convention Center is a modern, centrally located facility renowned for its direct connections via skywalk to numerous downtown hotels, Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Circle Centre Mall. Its accessibility from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and its prime location within a vibrant and walkable downtown core make it an exceptionally convenient and attractive destination for attendees from across North America and beyond. The ICC’s extensive exhibit halls and numerous meeting rooms provide ample space for the thousands of exhibitors and attendees that flock to this premier event, allowing for a seamless and impactful experience.

A Spring Treat: The Schedule The Sweets & Snacks Expo is an annual event, consistently taking place in May. This strategic timing allows industry professionals to gather midway through the year, ideal for reviewing annual strategies, sourcing new products for the second half of the year and the upcoming holiday seasons, and gaining insights into emerging trends.

For 2025, the Sweets & Snacks Expo took place from May 13-15, 2025.

The event typically spans three packed days, with a meticulously designed schedule to maximize discovery, education, and networking opportunities:

• Show Floor Hours: Generally from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Thursday. These extensive hours provide ample time to navigate the vast exhibit halls and engage with exhibitors.
• Pre-Show Events: The Expo typically kicks off with pre-show events. For 2025, this included an Awards Ceremony on the evening of Monday, May 12, and a Supplier Showcase running from Monday afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) to Tuesday morning (9:00 AM – 1:00 PM). This dedicated showcase allows for focused interaction with ingredient, packaging, and technology suppliers.
• Education Program: A robust, multi-track conference program runs concurrently with the show floor hours. This program features dozens of educational sessions presented by leading industry experts and thought leaders. Attendees can gain practical information covering the most important and timely issues, including consumer habits, retail trends, regulatory developments, sustainable practices, AI in product development, and more. Expect around 40+ insights-driven education sessions.
• Keynote & Main Stage Sessions: Throughout the show, there are typically high-profile keynote addresses and main stage presentations that delve into the “State of Snacking” and “State of Treating” reports, providing invaluable market data and strategic insights for the year ahead.
• Innovation Showcases: The show is renowned for its “New Product Showcase,” highlighting hundreds of the latest innovations hitting the market. This is complemented by the prestigious “Most Innovative New Product Awards,” recognizing excellence across various categories, including the coveted “Best in Show” award. For 2025, “Startup Street” was a new feature, showcasing companies in the industry for three years or less.
• Networking Opportunities: Beyond the formal sessions, the entire show environment is designed for connection. Attendees can network with peers, industry veterans, and potential suppliers directly on the show floor, during dedicated “Meet Up” events, and various informal receptions, including happy hour events.

This extensive and dynamic schedule ensures that every attendee, whether a seasoned industry veteran or a new entrant, finds valuable content and connections to propel their business forward in the dynamic sweets and snacks market.

A Feast for the Senses: Key Product and Service Categories

The Sweets & Snacks Expo offers an incredibly comprehensive range of products, services, and solutions that cater to virtually every aspect of the confectionery and snack industries. With hundreds of exhibitors, it serves as the ultimate sourcing and trend-spotting destination. Key categories typically featured include:

• Confectionery (Sweets):
  • Chocolate: Bars, truffles, molded chocolates, artisanal, premium, everyday, and seasonal chocolates.
  • Non-Chocolate Candy: Gummies, jellies, hard candy, lollipops, caramels, taffy, licorice, chewy candy, sour candy.
  • Gum & Mints: Chewing gum, bubble gum, breath mints, functional mints.
  • Specialty & Gourmet Candy: Organic, natural, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, ethnic, and novelty confectionery.
  • Seasonal & Holiday Confections: Products tailored for major holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Christmas.
• Snacks:
  • Salty Snacks: Potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn, cheese snacks, puffed snacks.
  • Meat Snacks: Jerky, meat sticks, dried sausage.
  • Nuts & Seeds: Roasted nuts, trail mixes, coated nuts, seeds (e.g., pumpkin, sunflower).
  • Sweet Snacks: Cookies, crackers (sweet varieties), packaged cakes, brownies, pastries, sweet biscuits.
  • Fruit Snacks: Dried fruit, fruit leathers, fruit-flavored snacks.
  • Health & Wellness Snacks: Granola bars, protein bars, nutrition bars, energy bars, vegetable-based snacks, plant-based snacks.
  • Refrigerated/Chilled Snacks: (often featured as an emerging category)
• Ingredients:
  • Sweeteners (sugar, alternative sweeteners), cocoa and chocolate products, nuts, fruits, flavors, starches, emulsifiers, functional ingredients.
• Packaging Solutions:
  • Flexible packaging, rigid packaging, sustainable packaging, stand-up pouches, film, wraps, labeling, printing services, display solutions.
• Processing & Manufacturing Equipment:
  • Confectionery machinery, baking equipment, snack production lines, packaging machinery, quality control systems, automation solutions.
• Business Services & Solutions:
  • Marketing, branding, and design agencies; retail merchandising solutions; POS systems; e-commerce platforms; logistics and supply chain management; market research firms; food safety consulting; financial services; legal advice.

This incredibly diverse range ensures that any professional in the sweets and snacks business, from a small artisanal candy maker to a large snack food manufacturer, can find the products, technologies, and services necessary to enhance their operations, innovate their offerings, and meet market demands.

The Sweet Spot for Connection: Visitor and Exhibitor Count

The Sweets & Snacks Expo consistently attracts a substantial and highly qualified audience, reflecting its position as the largest and most important trade event for the confectionery and snack industries in North America.

• Visitor Count: The Show draws an impressive number of industry professionals. For the 2025 edition, a record-breaking figure of more than 14,500 attendees from around the world convened in Indianapolis. Attendees represent a comprehensive cross-section of the industry, all seeking to source new products and solutions. The attendee demographics are highly targeted, including:
  • Retail Buyers: From convenience stores, grocery/supercenters/mass merchandisers, drug stores, department stores, value/dollar stores, club/warehouse stores, specialty/gourmet shops, gift & souvenir shops, e-commerce, and seasonal retailers.
  • Wholesalers & Distributors: Crucial for getting products to market.
  • Brokers: Connecting manufacturers with retailers.
  • Foodservice Operators: Restaurants, hotels, caterers, airlines, and event planners looking to enhance their snack and sweet offerings.
  • Manufacturers & Producers: Seeking ingredients, packaging, equipment, and market insights.
  • Suppliers: Of ingredients, packaging, equipment, and services.
  • Investors: Looking for promising new brands.
  • Media & Influencers: Covering trends and product launches. The Expo is strictly a business-to-business (B2B) event, meaning only qualified industry professionals are permitted to attend, ensuring a focused and productive environment. In 2025, the number of countries represented rose to 85, a testament to its global appeal.
• Exhibitor Count: The Expo features a massive display of products and services. For the 2025 edition, the show reported a record number of over 1,000 exhibitors, with more than 300 first-time exhibitors, showcasing their latest in candy and snack innovation across 250,000+ net square feet of show floor. This includes a mix of global industry giants (like Ferrero, Mondelez International, Hershey) and innovative up-and-coming brands.

The high concentration of key decision-makers and the targeted, business-focused nature of both exhibitors and attendees make this event incredibly efficient and productive for business development and market insights within the vibrant sweets and snacks industry.

The Recipe for Success: Benefits and Perks of Attending

Attending the Sweets & Snacks Expo is an unparalleled investment, offering a wealth of advantages for any professional operating in the dynamic confectionery and snack sectors.

• Unrivaled Product Discovery: Explore the largest selection of new and existing confectionery and snack products in North America. Taste and experience hundreds of new product launches across all categories – from innovative flavors and textures to better-for-you options and global inspirations. The “New Product Showcase” and “Startup Street” were particular highlights in 2025, giving attendees a sneak peek at the future of the industry.
• Direct Access to Key Manufacturers: Engage face-to-face with the biggest names in the industry, alongside exciting new brands. This direct interaction facilitates product evaluation, allows for negotiation, and is crucial for building and strengthening vital supplier relationships.
• Premier Industry Trends & Insights: Gain immediate insights into the latest consumer habits, retail trends, and product innovations that are shaping the future of the sweets and snacks market. The comprehensive education program and main stage presentations provide invaluable data and strategic insights from experts.
• World-Class Education Program: Benefit from a robust schedule of expert-led seminars and presentations on three dedicated stages. Learn about critical topics such as category growth strategies, consumer behavior, packaging innovations, food safety, regulatory developments, and how technology (like AI) is impacting the industry. These sessions are designed to be actionable and directly applicable to your business. Attendees even receive copies of every slide deck presented, providing thousands of dollars’ worth of data.
• Dedicated Innovation Zones: Experience specialized areas like the “New Product Showcase” and “Supplier Showcase,” which highlight cutting-edge ingredients, packaging solutions, and technologies that can fuel your own product development and operational efficiency. The “Most Innovative New Product Awards” celebrate the best of the best, giving you a clear indicator of what’s truly groundbreaking.
• Strategic Networking: Connect with thousands of industry peers, leaders, and potential partners from every segment of the supply chain. Share challenges, exchange best practices, and build a powerful professional network that can lead to new collaborations and business opportunities. Indianapolis’s welcoming atmosphere and events like the happy hour at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (home of the Indiana Pacers) provided excellent networking opportunities.
• Solutions for Business Challenges: Discover tangible solutions and practical advice for navigating common industry pain points, such as optimizing merchandising, improving supply chain resilience, understanding evolving consumer demands, and adapting to new retail landscapes.
• Exclusive Show-Only Deals: Many exhibitors offer special pricing, discounts, or promotions exclusively for show attendees, providing an opportunity for significant cost savings on purchases for your business.
• Unique Local Experiences: Beyond the show floor, Indianapolis offers unique opportunities. For 2025 attendees, a special “Fast Track” experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Indy 500 practice provided an unforgettable chance to immerse in local culture and continue networking.
• Commitment to Diversity & Giving Back: The Expo actively promoted diversity within the industry, showcasing minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. It also partnered with organizations like the USO and Give Kids the World Village, donating products to those in need, adding a meaningful dimension to the event.

Your Indy Retreat: Nearby Hotels and Convenient Accommodation

Indianapolis, as a major convention city, offers a fantastic array of hotel options, many directly connected to the Indiana Convention Center via skywalks, providing unparalleled convenience for attendees.

• Connected & Walkable Options (Downtown Indianapolis): Numerous hotels are directly connected to the Indiana Convention Center via a climate-controlled skywalk system, making access incredibly easy regardless of weather. These are highly recommended for their convenience:
  • Indianapolis Marriott Downtown: A 2-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • JW Marriott Indianapolis: A 3-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • Hyatt Regency Indianapolis: A 3-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • Omni Severin Hotel: A 3-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown-Union Station: A 5-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown: A 6-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown: A 6-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown: A 6-minute walk, connected by skywalk.
  • The Westin Indianapolis: A 2-minute walk.
• Other Downtown Hotels (Walkable): Many other excellent hotels are within a short walk of the convention center, even if not directly connected by skywalk:
  • Conrad Indianapolis: A 5-minute walk.
  • Hampton Inn Indianapolis Downtown Across from Circle Centre: A 5-minute walk.
  • Holiday Inn Express and Suites Indianapolis Downtown: A 5-minute walk.
  • The Alexander: A 10-minute walk.
  • Hotel Indy, Indianapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel: A 10-minute walk.
• Airport & Keystone Crossing Hotels: For those preferring to stay outside the immediate downtown area, hotels near Indianapolis International Airport or in the Keystone Crossing area (north side of Indianapolis) are options. The Expo often provides shuttle service for these hotels.
• Official Housing Partner: The Sweets & Snacks Expo partners with an official housing provider (typically onPeak). Booking through this official service is highly recommended as it often provides discounted rates, ensures you are booking through a reputable source, and offers better flexibility than booking directly or through third-party sites during large conventions. Always check the official show website for the link to the official housing portal.

Given Indianapolis’s popularity as a convention city and the significant attendance at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, it is highly advisable to book your accommodation as early as possible to secure your preferred location and rate, especially if you desire a skywalk-connected hotel.

The Investment in Your Indulgence: Understanding the Cost to Attend

Attending the Sweets & Snacks Expo is a valuable investment for professionals in the confectionery and snack industries, providing access to essential resources for business growth and staying competitive. Here’s what you could expect regarding costs for the 2025 event:

• Exhibit Hall Only Pass: This pass grants access to the main exhibit hall for all three days, including general sessions and showcase areas.
  • Early Bird Rate: This is the most affordable option, typically ranging from $40 – $70 USD.
  • Advance/Standard Rate: Prices increased closer to the show, usually ranging from $75 – $125 USD.
  • Onsite Rate: The highest price, typically $100 – $150 USD if registered at the door.
• Education/Full Access Pass: This pass provides access to the exhibit hall PLUS all the educational sessions, including keynotes and specialized workshops. This is highly recommended for attendees looking to gain deeper insights and strategic knowledge.
  • Early Bird Rate: Typically ranged from $250 – $400 USD.
  • Advance/Standard Rate: Prices increased, usually ranging from $350 – $550 USD.
  • Onsite Rate: The highest price, often $450 – $650 USD.
• Non-Exhibiting Supplier/Vendor Policy: For businesses that provide products or services to the confectionery and snack industries but are not exhibiting, there is generally a significantly higher fee (often several hundreds of dollars) to access the show floor. This policy is in place to encourage exhibition for suppliers whose primary goal is to sell products or services.

These fees generally cover access to the show itself. Attendees should also budget for personal travel (flights), accommodation, and dining expenses in Indianapolis. For the unparalleled opportunity to discover new products, connect with industry leaders, gain vital education on trends, and stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving sweets and snacks market, the return on this investment is considered substantial and often critical for operational excellence and sustained profitability. The Expo’s reported $12 million economic impact on Indianapolis in 2025 further underscores its significance.

Unwrap Your Potential: Your Journey to Confectionery & Snack Excellence Begins Here!

The Sweets & Snacks Expo is more than just an event; it’s the undisputed heart of the North American confectionery and snack industries, a powerful and inspiring convergence of innovation, deliciousness, and strategic insight that sets the tone for future success. It’s where global trends meet consumer demand, where groundbreaking products are unveiled, and where vital connections are forged that propel businesses across the entire supply chain. Whether you are a buyer seeking the next viral snack, a manufacturer looking for sustainable packaging, a retailer aiming to optimize your candy aisle, or an entrepreneur eager to launch a new sweet sensation, attending this Expo is an essential experience that will ignite your passion, broaden your market knowledge, and empower you to lead in the exciting, ever-evolving world of sweets and snacks. Don’t just sell treats; inspire, innovate, connect, and thrive!

To learn more about the Sweets & Snacks Expo and to plan your attendance for future editions, visit: sweetsandsnacks.com