After we’ve spent two years apart, this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo is going to be a big one for our industry, as thousands of industry experts and thought leaders convene in Indianapolis June 23-25 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CEO Corner
Making Room for Creativity This Winter Holiday Season
This year, the COVID-19 pandemic will change how we celebrate the winter holidays, with many Americans opting to hold smaller celebrations or participate in safer, socially-distanced winter holiday traditions to celebrate the season.
However, that doesn’t mean that winter holiday celebrations are off the table.
Shifting the Halloween 2020 Narrative from “If” to “How” to Celebrate
As we approach the end of the Halloween season – our industry’s “Super Bowl” – I’ve noticed an encouraging trend in the way state and local governments, health departments, the media and consumers are viewing Halloween celebrations.
We’re Taking the Guesswork Out of Halloween 2020
It’s October, which means we’re in the middle of the confectionery industry’s Super Bowl: the Halloween season. As we’ve gotten closer to the big day, we’ve unveiled resources on Halloween Central to prepare consumers, our member companies, retail partners and community stakeholders to celebrate the Halloween season in safe and creative ways.
Halloween Is Happening
At NCA, we’ve been connecting with consumers across the country to better understand how people, especially parents, are approaching the Halloween season this year. As health officials in every state consider safety guidance this fall, we want to share what we’ve learned.
First of all, allow me to take moment to assure you: Halloween is NOT canceled.
A Sneak Peek at Our Upcoming Virtual Town Hall
As we put the finishing touches on preparations for our first-ever NCA Town Hall, I’ve heard from a few member companies wondering about this new format and what they can expect from the event.
The answer is simple: we want this event to be about you.
We’ve Got a New Look
As we embark on a new era for NCA and our industry with our “Thrive in 2025” strategic plan, I’m beginning to think our focused approach to advocacy and communications couldn’t be more aptly named as we kick off the next five years with a total refresh of NCA’s visual identity. I am proud of the result, and I believe it reflects the fun and unique nature of chocolate and candy and the joy and sweetness consumers associate with our member companies’ brands.
Black Lives Matter & Our Role as Business Leaders
As business leaders, we have an opportunity to use our influence to create a stronger economy, uplift our communities and contribute to a better planet. Over the past week, we have all seen the gut-wrenching and soul-crushing videos and protests advocating for racial equality that have swept the country.
The Confectionery Industry Is Rising to the Challenge of COVID-19
It is incredible to think how much has changed in our industry over the past few months thanks to the coronavirus. As millions of Americans across the country isolated to slow the spread of the disease, they adapted their shopping habits to match their new lifestyle, prioritizing center store products and flocking to e-commerce and click and collect solutions.
It’s Not Enough to Say You’re Hurrying Help to Small Businesses
Small businesses are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, and at times like these, it’s the multigenerational businesses in our communities, like restaurants, ice cream shops, theaters, independent clothing stores and others like those in the chocolate and candy industry, that put it all on the line.
The “Agricultural Mafia” Is Alive and Well in the U.S. Sugar Program
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been reading in the New York Times about a scheme by many Central and Eastern European countries to take advantage of the billions of dollars given by the European Union in agricultural subsidies each…
