Confectionery Innovation Awards 2026 overview
- 2026 awards highlight confectionery innovation trends and growing consumer expectations
- Winners showcase bold flavours hybrid formats and cross-category product development
- Record entries signal intensified competition and accelerating pace of industry innovation
- Brands increasingly blend indulgence wellness and experience to meet evolving demands
- Competitors must prioritise speed creativity and differentiation to remain competitive globally
The year’s top confectionery innovations have been announced.
Revealed at the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Las Vegas, the winners of the 2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards, were recognised for playing their part in “shaping the future of the industry”.
The awards, say the judging panel, spotlight breakthrough innovation, emerging trends and products poised to drive consumer excitement and category growth.
“The Most Innovative New Product Awards celebrate the creativity, ingenuity and consumer-focused innovation that continue to move the confectionery and snack industries forward,” says John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association. “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.”
2026 Most Innovative New Product Award winners
Powerhouse Candy
WarHeads Loud Mouth Bites by CandyRific
Powerhouse Snack
Dot’s Snack Mix by The Hershey Company
Trailblazer Candy
Mochi Gummies - Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry by Issei
Trailblazer Snack
Raspberry Rose (Beauty + Glow) Popcorn by Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn
Chocolate
Alli & Rose Strawberry Moochies entered by CAL Marketing
Gourmet/Premium Confections
Freeze Dried Milk + White Chocolate Strawberries by Tru Fru
Gum & Mints
Bubbilicious Gummy Gum – Strawberry Orange by Perfetti Van Melle
Gummy Candy
Squashies Sours – Cherry & Apple by Smarties
Non-Chocolate Candy
Sour Tiniez by Rotten
Novelty/Licensed
Mashups Candy Salad Kit by 1UP Candy
Seasonal
Brach’s Crunchy Chewy Jelly Beans by Ferrara
Meat Snacks
Cinnabon Bakery Inspired Flavored – Bacon Jerky by Wicked Cutz
Salty Snacks
Cholula Hot Sauce Flavored Tortilla Chips by Xochitl, Inc.
Savory Snacks
Everything Bagel Pretzels by Promise Confections / Edward Marc Brands
Sweet Snacks
Nutella Ice Cream Cones by Ferrero North America
Baked Goods
Strawberry Milkshake Cookie by The Graceful Cooki
A new benchmark for confectionery innovation
This year’s winners underline a clear shift for the confectionery industry – bold flavours, cross-category inspiration and ‘treat plus’ propositions that tap into indulgence and experience trends.
From beauty-positioned popcorn to bakery-inspired jerky, boundaries are blurring as brands compete for attention in an increasingly crowded confectionery and snacking space.
For the industry, success lies in surprising consumers while still delivering familiarity and comfort. For competitors, the bar has been raised. Speed to market, collaborative thinking and a willingness to experiment with formats, flavours and occasions will be critical to staying relevant.
Those that fail to push beyond traditional category lines risk being left behind as consumer expectations continue to evolve.
Taste and Texture Broadcast
Want to discover more about the future of confectionery?
Watch ConfectioneryNews' Taste & Texture broadcast on 17 June 2026.
With experts from Mondelēz International, Ferrero Group, Mintel and NotCo AI, it'll cover everything from the trends driving new taste and texture innovations, to the challenges faced and overcome.
SPEAKERS
- Norberto Chaclin, Chief R&D Officer, Mondelēz International
- Thomas Chatenier, Global President, Nutella
- Fabio Mora, Senior VP of Open Innovation, Ferrero
- Alisia Heath, VP of Research & Development, NotCo AI
- Honorata Jarocka, Associate Principal, Mintel Food & Drink, Mintel
