NCA names top candy and snack products of the year

The National Confectioners Association names the winners of the 2018 Most Innovative New Product Awards.

This year's Best in Show award went to Hostess for Bakery Petites Double Chocolate Cake Delights.

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has announced the winners of the 2018 Most Innovative New Product Awards.

The winners, chosen from more than 300 entries, were announced at an awards ceremony at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, held May 22-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

In addition to nine core categories judged in previous years, the NCA awarded Barry Callebaut the inaugural Ruby Award for Supplier Innovation for its development of Ruby chocolate, a rosy chocolate made from naturally pink cocoa beans.

Chicago-based Vosges Haut-Chocolat received the second Small Business Innovator Award for Wild Ophelia Hazelnut Cocoa Toast. This award recognizes companies with net sales under $500,000, giving them the opportunity to gain recognition among well-established peers.

This year's Best in Show award went to Hostess for Bakery Petites Double Chocolate Cake Delights, made with real chocolate and without high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors.

Product submissions for all categories were rated on four weighted criteria: taste, packaging, innovation and go-to-market feasibility.

Winners in the other categories include:

Chocolate
Hershey’s Gold Standard Bar
The Hershey Co.

Non-Chocolate
Big Chewy Nerds
Nestle USA/Ferrara Candy Co.

Sweet Snacks
Organic White Chocolate Mini Peanut Butter Cups
Justin’s

Salty Snacks
Tangerine Vanilla Cashew Macadamia Glazed Mix
Sahale Snacks

Savory Snacks
Trail Mix Crackers
Alli & Rose

Novelty/Licensed
Warheads Dippin’ Ring
Impact Confections

Seasonal
Ferrero Rocher Golden Heart for You and Me
Ferrero USA

Gourmet
Parm Crisps Trios
That's How We Roll

Gum & Mints
Cool Tropical Tic Tac Gum
Ferrero USA, Inc.