Sweets & Snacks Expo marks return of trade shows in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — In the middle of National Candy Month, the Indiana Convention Center is hosting candy’s “premier trade show,” the Sweets & Snacks Expo.

The expo, running through Friday, is not open to the public, but business owners in the industry can attend by registering online.

It’s the first trade show in Indianapolis in 2021 and the first food-industry trade show to open in more than a year for Indianapolis. The in-person show is set to have 8,000 attendees and more than 450 exhibitors, and bring in $6.3 million of economic impact to the city. Hence this year’s theme, Back to Business.

Organizers say the expo is built on a legacy of innovation and helping the industry grow and giving business owners, big and small, some of the new trends that customers are following. The goal is to give them inspiration on how to approach the year ahead before they venture into popular candy seasons including Halloween and the winter holidays.

News 8’s Randall Newsome got a chance to meet Alina Morse on opening day of the Sweets & Snacks Expo. Morse, the founder and CEO of Zolli Candy, talked with him about her journey to becoming the fastest-growing candy company in the country as a teenager.

Newsome also got to chat with Indiana-based Pop Weaver Popcorn.