Candy Hunting - 2014 Sweets & Snacks Expo New Products

The National Confectioners Association's All Candy Expo first debuted in Chicago 18 years ago as a way for candy manufactures to exhibit their products to potential buyers. In 2010, other snacks were included, and the name was changed to the Sweets & Snacks Expo. The 2014 expo has more than 620 exhibitors and takes place from May 20-22 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Attendees include retailers and wholesalers looking to purchase candy, suppliers and brokers from the National Confectioners Association, and a small number of the media. I am one of the fortunate members of the media attending the expo. 

Candy and snack companies can submit their new products to the Sweets & Snacks Expo's New Product Showcase to be eligible for the Most Innovative New Product Award. These are just some of the new products submitted so far.

Chuao Chocolatier 

Release date: August 1, 2014

Oh My S'mores bar

"Fluffy marshmallows and crushed honey graham crackers reunite in milk chocolate" 

Ooh Ahh Almond bar

"Crunchy whole almonds, kettle cooked in sugar & sea salt, delight in dark chocolate"

Sweet & Salty bar

"A touch of sea salt, swirled in creamy chocolate" 
(These are currently available as mini bars.)

Pretzel Toffee Twirl bar

"Crunchy mini pretzels and buttery toffee dance in dark chocolate"

Hammond's Candies

Release date: April 1, 2014

Hammond's Whoopie Pie bar

"Dark chocolate shell with a sweet sugar frosting filling"

Hammond's Cookie Dough bar

"Milk chocolate shell with a creamy cookie dough filling"

Haribo

Sour! Gold-Bears

Release date: October 1, 2014

Just Born

Peeps Minis

Release date: May 15, 2014

Available in Chocolate Crème, Strawberry Crème, and Sour Watermelon.

Peeps Marshmallow Minions

Release date: August 2, 2014

Goldenberg's Peanut Chews Bites

Release date: May 14, 2014

Loacker USA

Cremkakao, Dark-Noir, Milk, and White chocolate bars

Release date: October 1, 2014

Pearson's Candy Company

Peanut Butter Salted Nut Roll

Release date: June 1, 2014

All of the photos and information were provided by their respective manufacturer. 

Milk Chocolate Mega M&M's

Place purchased: CVS

Price: $4.39 (Milk Chocolate Mega M&M's are also available in single serve size bags.) 

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 5.3 

The Milk Chocolate Mega M&M's are circular and flat. They are also clearly much larger than normal milk chocolate M&M's. 

J: I really do not like the large, wafer size of the M&M. It looks like someone sat on it, or they melted or something.

L: They look like Sprees. Could be confusing.

S: Look like Sprees.

Flavor and Taste - 7.3 

The Mega M&M's are sweet and have a milk chocolate flavor, like milk chocolate M&M's. 

J: Tastes great!

S: A little sour dairy.

Texture - 7.3 

The shell is very crispy and crunchy. 

J: I'm not as in to the texture. Loses some of the M&M crunch you expect because there is so much chocolate.

Aftertaste - 6.8 

The aftertaste is sweet and slightly chocolaty. 

L: Sour dairy. 

Overall - 7.1

Overall, these taste exactly like normal milk chocolate M&M's. The only difference is the size and shape, which is not that exciting. 

J: Good overall! 

L: Just like M&M's but bigger. 

Russell Stover Carrot Cake Egg

Place purchased: Walgreens

Price: $0.59 

Number of reviewers: 3

Appearance - 7.2 

The carrot cake egg has a white chocolate shell with a bright orange, carrot cake flavored filling. The filling also has visible specks from the spices, which is difficult to see from the picture. 

J: I like the bright orange inside with the white outside. But the orange is very artificial, maybe it would be better darker. 

Flavor and Taste - 7.7 

The filling is sweet and tastes like cake spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, so essentially carrot cake. The white chocolate exterior is also very sweet and does not have much flavor. 

J: The white chocolate tastes great, and the inside filling (flavor sets in later) is nice and has that expected carrot cake spice.

S: Very light carrot cake flavor. Could have been stronger. 

Texture - 7.3 

The filling is very smooth, and the white chocolate is also soft.  

J: Smooth and creamy.

S: Felt like there were sugar pieces in it. Gooey. 

Aftertaste - 7.7 

The aftertaste consists of sweetness from the white chocolate and spices from the carrot cake filling. 

J: Mostly notes of the carrot cake spice. 

Overall - 7.7

Overall, the Russell Stover Carrot Cake eggs are a good representation of carrot cake. 

J: Great! Would definitely buy. 

Russell Stover Birthday Cake Egg

Place purchased: Walgreens

Price: $0.59 

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 8.0

The birthday cake eggs have a yellow cake filling coated with milk chocolate and topped with sprinkles. It would have been better if the sprinkles had not been crushed. 

J: I love the sprinkles. They are a nice, colorful touch. The interior looks like raw cake batter. 
L: Sprinkles make everything better. Try not to smash them, though. 
S: I like the sprinkles! I wish these weren't smashed ones. 

Flavor and Taste - 4.8 

The egg initially tastes like sprinkles. After the sweet sprinkle taste subsided, I was able to taste the filling, which was more like custard than yellow cake. I was not able to taste the milk chocolate at all until the aftertaste. 

J: The interior has a definite cake flavor, which is great. But I am disappointed in their choice to use chocolate coating, because it hides the cake flavor. 
L: No chocolate. Eggy inside. Lack of flavor in general. 
S: Tastes eggy with old sprinkles. I don't taste the chocolate. 

Texture - 5.5

The filling is very soft, and the sprinkles are crunchy and grainy. 

J: Great contrast, with a hard outside and soft inside. 

L: The inside is gross. Slimey. 

S: Inside is too gooey. 

Aftertaste - 4.8

There is a metallic aftertaste from the milk chocolate. 

J: Mostly chocolate. 

S: Metallic aftertaste. 

Overall - 4.9

I am surprised that these birthday cake eggs were so bad, since the Russell Stover Wedding Cake Eggs were delicious. The milk chocolate used for the birthday cake eggs is unnoticeable except for the metallic aftertaste, and the filling does not taste like cake. 

J: The inside cake they did a great job with, but I want to taste the cake flavor and not chocolate. 

Blue Raspberry Peeps

Place purchased: Walmart 

Price: $1.08 

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 8.0 

The Blue Raspberry Peeps are comprised of a light blue, blue raspberry flavored marshmallow coated with blue sugar, citric acid, and fumaric acid. 

Flavor and Taste - 8.0 

The Peeps have a strong berry flavor. They taste substantially better than most blue raspberry products. 

C: For not usually liking blue raspberry, this is really good. 
J: A very fake blue raspberry flavor, but I love it. A little tang/sour, too. Very tasty. 
S: Tastes like berries! Lots of flavor! 

Texture - 7.9 

The Peeps have a soft marshmallow interior, and a crunchy, granular sugar exterior. 

Aftertaste - 7.8 

The aftertaste is sour with a slight berry flavor. The sour aftertaste is actually more intense than the Sour Watermelon Peeps. 

J: Lingering blue raspberry.

S: Sweet and flavor lasts. 

Overall - 8.1

These Blue Raspberry Peeps are fantastic. The blue raspberry flavor of the Peeps is superior to other blue raspberry flavors, and the combination of citric and fumaric acid add a plesant sour taste. Also, my tongue is now very blue. And my fingers. And my lips. 

J: Yumm! So good! Would buy. 

Sour Watermelon Peeps

Place purchased: Walmart 

Price: $1.08 

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 8.4 

The Sour Watermelon Peeps consist of a pink, watermelon-flavored marshmallow coated with green sugar and a combination of citric acid and fumaric acid for sourness. 

C: Cool pink with green sugar.

J: I love the green outer contrast with the pink inside. Nice packaging, too. 

S: I like that it is pink inside and green outside like a watermelon. 

Flavor and Taste - 7.6 

The flavor does not taste much like watermelon. It is more like a general fruity flavor. Also, I could not detect any sourness while eating the Peeps. 

C: A little sour, but not too overpowering. They taste like Sour Patch watermelon, but not as sour.
J: Great watermelon flavor. Very reminiscent of a Jolly Rancher. Smooth. Sweet.
S: Tastes good! Tastes like Bubble Tape gum. I like that the sour isn't too overpowering. 

Texture - 7.9 

The texture is characteristic of all Peeps; a soft and chewy marshmallow with crunchy, granular sugar. 

Aftertaste - 7.3 

The sour taste comes through in the aftertaste. 

J: The sour comes more into play in the aftertaste. 

Overall - 7.8

Overall, these Peeps are good. However, they taste more like slightly tart, fruity Peeps than Sour Watermelon Peeps. 

J: Great Peep! Tasty watermelon. 

S: Overall yummy! 

Candy Hunting - New Russell Stover Eggs

Russell Stover Birthday Cake Egg

Place found: Walgreen's 

Price: $0.59 (on sale 2/$1.00) 

Review

Russell Stover Carrot Cake Egg

Place found: Walgreen's 

Price: $0.59 (on sale 2/$1.00) 

Review

Russell Stover Brownie Egg

Place found: Walgreen's 

Price: $0.59 (on sale 2/$1.00) 

Review

Also available at Walgreen's are the new Russell Stover Wedding Cake eggs and Russell Stover Red Velvet eggs, which are returning for a second year.