Food manufacturing is serious business. Sales of confectionery products alone weighed in at more than $54 billion last year, according to our friends at the National Confectioners Association (NCA)—that’s a lot of sweets Americans are treating themselves to every year. Snacks are huge, too—SNAC International’s latest State of the Industry reports tells us that salty snacks raked in more than $3.1 billion, a figure that represents nearly 7% growth in one year.

This big business is why thousands flock to Sweets & Snacks Expo every year. If you are headed toward Indianapolis May 13–15, definitely check out Senior Editor Liz Parker Kuhn’s preview piece in this digital edition to get all the important show details.

However, I wanted to add some bonus tips on top of her useful info. I’ve been attending when it was still called the All Candy Expo (it changed to S&S in 2010) and over the years have picked up a few things that might be less crucial than the info Liz shares in her piece, but you still might find them helpful. Here goes….

• Pace yourself. You might be tempted to eat every morsel offered to you. That’s what I foolishly did my first year—Mom always taught me it’s not polite to refuse food if offered to you. Halfway through my first day, I felt sick enough I nearly headed home (thankfully, I powered through).
• Stay hydrated. Drinking H₂O throughout the day will help you to better digest all those sweet treats and savory snacks, but what’s more, it will help you power through what is a truly athletic pursuit; in 2024, I averaged 8 miles of walking per day. Bring your water bottle with you.
• Don’t be greedy. Samples are there for you to take, but be careful you don’t get carried away. Limit your loot to one or two samples per exhibitor so there’s enough to go around. A possible exception is the last day, when exhibitors looking to offload excess might be more generous.
• Take time for fun. True, candy and snacks are in and of themselves chock full o’ fun, but S&S packs in extra, through interactive exhibits in booths, games with branded prizes at stake, and fun mascots—it’s my habit to take pics with as many people in candy costumes as possible.

• Work hard: Nathan showed up every danged day to Highland’s facilities, industry events, and wherever else he was needed and gave 100%
• Make connections: Rather than just sticking to the duties of his job description, he made a point to bond with Highland employees at every level, on a professional and personal level
• Build a network: A fixture at scores of industry events (American Society of Baking, American Bakers Association, and others), he didn’t just show up—he connected with producers, suppliers, execs, and people at every level as friends.

If you haven’t signed up for Sweets & Snacks Expo yet, there’s still time—it’s a great place to spot trends, make connections, and taste what’s new. See you there! SF&WB