2026 Most Innovative New Product Awards Showcase
This digital portal provides access to more than 500 products submitted into the 2026 innovation awards program. Product submissions were taste-tested by more than 40 judges from leading retailers and distributors representing nearly 85 percent of U.S. confectionery and snack industry buying power.
This year’s awards program introduces two new top honors – the Trailblazer Award and Powerhouse Award – replacing the previous Best in Show and Small Business Innovator categories. The updated structure reflects the evolving marketplace while ensuring the Most Innovative New Product Awards continue to recognize both disruptive emerging ideas and high-impact launches from established brands.
PATROCINADO POR:
Powerhouse Award
Powerhouse – Candy
CandyRific
WARHEADS
Loud Mouth Bites Bag 10ct.
SRP: $1.79 | 0.7 oz
WARHEADS LOUD MOUTH BITES BAG .70oz. Crispy, Crunchy Popping Candy Bites featured in top 3 sour flavors: watermelon, green apple & blue raspberry. Multi-level candy experience-100 popping candy crystals inside each crunchy piece. 10 individually wrapped pieces in each bag. See how long you can POP!
Powerhouse – Snack
The Hershey Company
Dot’s
Mezcla para aperitivos
SRP: $5.99 | 4.4 oz
Dot’s® Original Snack Mix is a thoughtfully crafted mix with no filler and bold flavor. It features four intentionally chosen pieces — Dot’s® Original Seasoned Mini Pretzels, Dot’s® Original Seasoned Corn Cereal, Dot’s® Bold Cheese Seasoned Pita Chips, and Savory Garlic Rye Chips.
Trailblazer Award
Trailblazer – Candy
Issei
Mochi Gummies – Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry
SRP: $9.99 | 4 oz
Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry Mochi Gummies combine a soft, bouncy gummy with rich dark chocolate for a new, multi-textural candy experience. This viral, fun format taps into global flavors and indulgent snacking, driving differentiation and incremental sales at retail.
Trailblazer – Snack
Belle's Gourmet Popcorn
Raspberry Rose (Beauty + Glow) Popcorn
SRP: $5.99 | 2.5 oz
Belle’s Raspberry Rose Popcorn elevates popcorn with elegant floral berry flavor and creamy white chocolatey drizzles. Crafted with collagen, biotin, vitamin E, and beauty-inspired ingredients, it merges premium indulgence, self-care trends, and distinctive innovation in one memorable snack.
Productos horneados
Ganador:
The Graceful Cookie
Strawberry Milkshake Cookie
SRP: $2.95 | 1.9 oz
Inspired by the classic diner favorite, our
All-Natural Strawberry Milkshake Cookie blends creamy subtle flavors with the nostalgic sweetness of ripe strawberries. Soft,
chewy, and swirled with hints of silky milkshake flavor, each bite delivers a smooth, dreamy taste
Finalistas:
Flathau’s Fine Foods
Dollywood Candy Kitchen
Cinnamon Bread Cookies
SRP: $3.50 | 2 oz
These cinnamon bun cookies will take you right back to Grandma’s house! Our delectable shortbread rounds covered in powdered sugar are sure to catch the taste buds of any sweet tooth enthusiasts!
Loacker USA, Inc.
Quadratini Strawberry
SRP: $4.99 | 8.82 oz
Loacker, Italian family-owned leader in premium wafers, launches Strawberry, the top fruit flavor. Crisp, airy wafers with smooth strawberry cream deliver a fresh, mindful indulgence, blending tradition and innovation with a clean-label recipe, setting a new fruity premium standard. For every taste.
Pop’s Corner Bakery
Something Sweet – Chocolate Chip Cookie Card
SRP: $12.99 | 18 oz
A show-stopping 5″x7″ gift box that doubles as a greeting card, perfectly sized for an indulgent 18oz giant cookie. Sweet, thoughtful, and ready to impress—your message and dessert delivered in one unforgettable package.
Flowers Foods
Wonder
Banana Creme-Filled Cakes
SRP: $2.99 | 3.5 oz
Indulge in the perfect combination of crème filling, icing and banana taste with Wonder® Creme Filled Artificially Flavored Banana Crème Cakes. These snack cakes are made with real bananas, giving them the perfect hint of banana with every bite.
Chocolate
Ganador:
CAL Marketing Alli & Rose
Strawberry Moochies
SRP: $9 | 15.9 oz
Experience a “lil’ smooch” of flavor with Strawberry Moochies. These bite-sized, strawberry-flavored gummies are coated in silky milk chocolate and finished with a delicate white chocolate drizzle. A playful and premium multi-textured treat that perfectly blends fruity sweetness with rich cocoa.
Finalistas:
The Hershey Company
Reese’s
OREO Cup
SRP: $2.99 | 2.8 oz
When America’s #1 candy and the #1 cookie finally decided to break the internet (and your snack standards). This is the iconic duo our fans have been dreaming about. The Reese’s OREO® Cup brings together milk chocolate and white creme peanut butter cups with OREO® cookie crumbs.
Trü Frü
Freeze Dried Milk + White Chocolate Strawberries
SRP: $5.23 | 3.4 oz
Ripe-picked, freeze-dried strawberries coated in smooth milk and white chocolate. Made with real fruit and chocolate, perfect for anytime, anywhere.
R. M. Palmer Company LLC
Hostess Ding Dongs Mini Candies – 10oz Laydown Bag
SRP: $4.99 | 10 oz
Created through a partnership between RM Palmer Company, LLC and Hostess®, Ding Dongs® Mini Candy Pieces reimagine the classic chocolate cake with a chocolatey coating and cream‑flavored filling in perfectly poppable, shareable bites.
Maeve Chocolate
Virgin Dirty Shirley Truffle Bar
SRP: $8 | 2.5 oz
Maeve Chocolate partnered with the Dungeon Crawler Carl universe to create a bar inspired by Princess Donut’s favorite drink, the Virgin Dirty Shirley. A shell of dark chocolate melts to reveal a smooth cherry-forward white chocolate center and popping candy fizz that crackles.
Gourmet / Premium – Confections
Ganador:
Trü Frü
Frozen Fresh Bananas in Greek Yogurt with White Chocolate + Granola
SRP: $10.00 | 8 oz
Tru Fru Banana Greek Yogurt starts with fresh picked bananas, flash frozen to lock in flavor and nutrients. Each banana is immersed in creamy Greek yogurt, then coated in smooth white chocolate and granola.
Finalistas:
Chocolates Sconza
Espresso Martini Cremes
SRP: $5.99 | 4.5 oz
Dark chocolate infused with espresso wraps a velvety crème center, with notes of an espresso martini—an indulgent, on-trend flavor experience that brings a sophisticated twist to the chocolate set and nods to the classic cocktail’s tradition of health, wealth, and happiness.
Crack Corn
Puffy Pop
Puffy Pop – Iced Lemon Loaf – Ultra Premium Puff Corn
SRP: $7.99 | 4.23 oz
Heavenly, melt in your mouth puffs that taste just like Iced Lemon Loaf cake. It’s better than popcorn! Puffy Pop is ultra premium puff corn that has no kernels and no hulls, so no shells get stuck in your teeth.
Galerie
Galerie au Chocolat
Ube Truffles, with Coconut, Mango, & Rice Crisps
SRP: $7.00 | 4.16 oz
Galerie au Chocolat’s Ube Style Truffles combine the unique flavor of Ube with a tropical filling that includes coconut, mango, and rice crisps.
Big Dipper Food Company
PopCrunch
Dubai Chocolate
SRP: $8.99 | 3 oz
The perfect pairing of tasty popcorn coated in pistachio butter mixed with crunchy kataifi, all covered in real milk chocolate – a sweet treat with a pop crunch that’s sure to satisfy.
Gum and Mints
Ganador:
Perfetti Van Melle USA, Inc.
Bubblicious
Gummy Gum – Strawberry Orange
SRP: $1.59 | 1.4 oz
Bubblicious Gummy Gum Strawberry Orange delivers a first-of-its-kind dual-texture experience, pairing chewy candy and classic bubble gum in one piece. Bursting with bold strawberry and orange flavors, it redefines gum with playful, gummy-candy fun.
Finalistas:
Perfetti Van Melle USA, Inc.
Mentos
Gum – Pure White Sweet Mint 10p
SRP: $1.89 | 0.7 oz
Pocket-friendly Mentos Pure White gum fits easily in your purse, pocket, or backpack for fresh flavor on the go. This sugar-free, xylitol-sweetened gum has a crunchy shell, soft center, and helps reduce stains in 6 weeks.
The Hershey Company
Ice Breakers
Snow Cone
SRP: $3.99 | 3.24 oz
Ice Breakers Snow Cone is a limited edition gum and mints lineup featuring an ice cold fruity flavor with red and blue crystals. Designed to cue cooling and deliver the brand’s differentiated cold rush experience, the Ice Breakers Snow Cone taps into summer seasonal nostalgia with bold packaging.
breathROX
Chili Lime Mango Sugar-Free Popping Candy Breath Mints with Zinc
SRP: $3.49 | 0.63 oz
breathROX Chili Lime Mango are sugar-free popping candy breath mints with zinc and Tajin®. Other breath mints are just perfumed candy. breathROX are fun & functional. Popping helps stimulate saliva. Crystals help scrub mouth. Zinc helps neutralize odors. breathROX are sugar-fee and aspartame-free.
Amos Sweets Inc.
Refreshing Iced Coffee Mints
SRP: $2.99 | 1.06 oz
A precision-balanced menthol infusion meets real caffeine, transforming standard candy into a refreshing, high-energy ‘Iced Espresso’ sensation. Zero-Sugar. The next generation of functional, plant-based snacking. Potable. Get real coffee energy whenever you need it.
Caramelos de goma
Ganador:
Smarties Candy Company
Smarties Squashies
Sours – Cherry & Apple
SRP: $2.99 | 5 oz
Soft, foamy candy with a tangy twist. Smarties Squashies Sours Cherry & Apple combine juicy cherry and crisp apple flavors with a sour kick, delivering a sweet and tart experience. All wrapped in the signature Squashies foam gummy texture fans know and love. Only 70 calories per serving.
Finalistas:
Podrido
Spicy Sour Gummy Cruncheez
SRP: $3.99 | 1.8 oz
A fiery twist on the Sour Cruncheez you know and love. Made with real peppers, Spicy Sour Cruncheez bring all the mouth-puckering zest of Sour Cruncheez with an added spicy kick that’ll punch you in the tastebuds. They’re sour then spicy.
SOCKERBIT SWEDISH CANDY
Foamy Sour Lips & Skulls
SRP: $4.99 | 2.82 oz
Sour Foamy Lips & Skulls meet growing demand to switch to cleaner candy without giving up fun or flavor. Category disruptor Swedish candy driving from 2024 virality to today’s shelves w/ Q4 25 Target launch. Light, airy foamy and bright sour bite, natural fruit flavor, no HFCS, GMO free, no Red 40.
SmartSweets
Candy Salad
SRP: $3.29 | 1.8 oz
Candy Salad brings new shoppers to candy, driving incremental growth with a BFY sweet-and-sour mix. Featuring five flavors and shapes, it delivers variety with just 3g sugar and no artificial sweeteners, dyes, or sugar alcohols. Fueled by the #candysalad trend, mix SKUs are surging (+79%).
Amos Sweets Inc.
Peelerz
Gummy Blue Raspberry
SRP: $3.99 | 6 oz
With real fruit juice added. Vibrant blue raspberry flavor burst. Indulge in a tangy, sour-sweet blue raspberry taste that delivers a fruity explosion with every bite, Perfect for satisfying your craving for a bright, berry-forward treat.
Fun peeling texture, all blue- most trendy flavor in the US!
Bocadillos de carne
Ganador:
Wicked Cutz LLC
Cinnabon Bakery Inspired Flavored – Bacon Jerky 2oz
SRP: $8.99 | 2 oz
Wicked Cutz Cinnabon® Bakery Inspired Bacon Jerky combines premium thick-cut bacon with the warm, sweet flavor of the iconic Cinnabon bakery experience. This unique sweet-and-savory snack delivers smoky bacon richness with cinnamon roll-inspired flavor in a convenient, protein-packed jerky.
Finalistas:
Mighty Spark Food Co.
Maple Chicken Snack Sticks
SRP: $8.69 | 4 oz
Our Maple Chicken Snack Sticks blend premium all-natural chicken with a just-right touch of maple sweetness for superior flavor that truly stands apart. This sweet-and-savory favorite is packed with lean protein for the whole family making it perfect for anytime summer snacking.
Chomps
Savory Breakfast Chicken Stick
SRP: $2.79 | 1.15 oz
Chomps Savory Breakfast Chicken Sticks are made with antibiotic‑free chicken, pack 12g of protein and 0g sugar. Wake up your taste buds with the bold flavor of your favorite breakfast sausage. This new breakfast staple offers a new snacking occasion in a convenient on-the-go format.
Old Wisconsin Sausage
Hidden Valley Ranch
Buffalo Style Ranch Dippers
SRP: $3.00 | 3.25 oz
Buffalo Ranch Seasoned, 100% Natural Grilled Chicken paired with Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing in a convenient package that’s ready for 15g of protein on the go.
Carnes ICON
BEAST – Honey BBQ
SRP: $3.49 | 1.7 oz
The BEAST Stick is the first-ever meat snack to combine bison, elk , venison & pork into one bold, protein-packed snack. 16g of protein, low sugar, regenerative & natural, minimally processed with clean ingredients, no gluten, MSG, or nitrates, it’s the cleanest, most powerful stick.
Caramelos sin chocolate
Ganador:
Podrido
Sour Tiniez
SRP: $3.99 | 1.8 oz
Meet Sour Tiniez: the ultimate bite-sized, sour chewy fruit candy! Packed with 11g of protein per serving and low in sugar, they deliver the intense tangy pucker consumers crave with the macros they demand.
Finalistas:
Final Boss Sour
Level 3 Sour Watermelon Kiwis
SRP: $4.99 | 3.52 oz
Level 3 Watermelon Kiwis combine real dried kiwi with bold watermelon sour flavor in a gamified ‘Level 3’ intensity. Made with real fruit and no artificial flavors or colors, it delivers a craveable sweet-sour experience designed to drive repeat purchase and stand out on shelf.
Just Born
HOT TAMALES®
Tropical Heat
SRP: $1.49 | 4.25 oz
Meet NEW HOT TAMALES® Tropical Heat™ – where tropical flavors collide with fiery pepper spice. Mango Chili, Pineapple Picante and Fiery Lime deliver a sweet-heat rush that dares you to “Live on Flavor’s Edge.” With colors from natural sources. Available in 4.25 oz theater box & 9 oz SUB.
Bazooka Brands
Go Wandr™
Mini Mochi Gummy Berry Mix
SRP: $3.99 | 5 oz
NEW Go Wandr™ Mini Mochi Gummy reimagines authentic Japanese mochi in a playful gummy form, creating a one-of-a-kind fusion where every bite feels like a sweet adventure.
Morinaga America, Inc.
HI-CHEW
Lychee & Raspberry Stick
SRP: $2.31 | 1.76 oz
HI-CHEW Lychee & Raspberry Stick delivers a tangy‑sweet dual‑flavor chew with a unique taste rarely found on shelves. The bold new packaging boosts shelf impact and on‑the‑go appeal, drawing new consumers and tapping into demand for globally inspired flavors.
Novedad/Licencia
Ganador:
Caramelos 1UP
Mash1ups Candy Salad Kit
SRP: $3.5 | 5.2 oz
Productizes #CandySalad TikTok trend (125M+ views) into a first-of-its-kind DIY candy kit — gummy mix + sour powder + 2 sauces + tongs. Net-new format in bagged candy. Built for content creation. Brings the trend-shopper into the aisle. Fully incremental, not a line extension.
Finalistas:
Exclusive Brands
Gummi Popz
Sweet – Wild Berry
SRP: $2.99 | 1.8 oz
Sweet Venture Group is shaking up the candy aisle with Gummi Popz™: the world’s first popping gummy candy. This new candy format layers chewy gummies, tangy candy gel and popping candy for a bold multi-sensory experience. Your Flavor, Your Way.
Fat and Weird Cookie
Stuffed Cookie Dough Bites
Some Mores Stuffed Cookie Dough Bites
SRP: $6.99 | 8 oz
Indulge in our bite-sized s’mores treats—soft, chocolatey cookie dough stuffed with gooey marshmallow and melted chocolate. Finished with a hint of graham cracker crunch, each bite delivers the perfect nostalgic campfire flavor.
OPP Omaha Protein Popcorn
Spicy Dill Pickle
SRP: $9.99 | 4.1 oz
Omaha Protein Popcorn, greatest tasting healthy protein popcorn you wouldn’t even think was healthy by how phenomenal it tastes with our newest flavor Spicy Dill Pickle.
32g Whey Isolate Protein | Coconut Oil | Gluten Free | No High Fructose. Cobranded & Made with Lola’s Hot Sauce, the finest ever!
Huer
Cholula Chamoy Tropical Ring Mix
SRP: $3.79 | 5 oz
Huer Cholula® Chamoy Tropical Ring Mix redefines “swicy” with sour watermelon, pineapple, and mango rings dusted in authentic Cholula®. A layered hit of sweet, tangy, salty, and chili-umami heat, capturing the booming sweet-meets-spicy trend and pushing the boundaries of what gummy candy can be.
Aperitivos salados
Ganador:
Xochitl, Inc.
Cholula Hot Sauce Flavored Tortilla Chips
SRP: $4.49 | 7.5 oz
Spicy, crispy, with only the finest ingredients. The taste of Mexico has never been closer than with Xochitl & Cholula.
Finalistas:
Utz Quality Foods
Sizzlin’ Summer Burger Ripple Potato Chips
SRP: $4.99 | 7.75 oz
With bold burger flavor and a bit of sizzle, Utz’s Sizzlin’ Summer Burger flavored potato chips capture everything you crave about a hot-off-the-grill classic – no grill required. For a limited time only.
PepsiCo
Doritos
Protein Sweet & Tangy BBQ
SRP: $4.89 | 7 oz
Doritos Protein isn’t your average protein chip. It packs the bold flavor you love with 10g of protein (per 1 oz serving) with big taste and iconic crunch.
PepsiCo
Smartfood
Smartfood FiberPop Toffee and Sea Salt
SRP: $4.59 | 5.75 oz
A Pop of delicious Toffee and Sea Salt Flavor. Fiber-Rich. Flavor-Full.
KrackCorn, LLC
KrackCorn® Popcorn
Jalapeño Heat!
SRP: $4.99 | 5.5 oz
Oven-Baked Popcorn, a hint of buttery caramel, with authentic jalapeno peppers on every piece. Gluten Free and Non-Gmo popcorn with a kick!
Aperitivos salados
Ganador:
Promise Confections / Edward Marc Brands
Edward Marc Chocolatier
Everything Bagel Pretzels
SRP: $5.99 | 5.5 oz
Crispy bite sized pretzels with an asiago cheese glaze covered in everything bagel seasoning
Finalistas:
WILDE Brands
Protein Cracker – Classic Cheddar
SRP: $6.49 | 4.2 oz
Experience the craveable crunch of WILDE Classic Cheddar Protein Crackers™. Baked with real chicken breast, bone broth, and real cheese for a light, crispy crunch, they pack 12g protein per serving and 4x more protein than the leading cheesy cracker*. Soy-free, preservative-free, and seed oil-free.
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut / Hawaiian Host
Mauna Loa
Pineapple Habanero Macadamia Nuts
SRP: $7.99 | 4 oz
Mauna Loa Pineapple Habanero Macadamias deliver a bold crunch with juicy pineapple sweetness and a kick of habanero heat, balanced by the rich, creamy texture of macadamias. Tapping into the rising “swicy” flavor trend, this plant-based snack brings a sweet-heat flavor to the snack nut category.
DJ&A
Pickle-Licious Original Pickle Flavored Cucumber Crisps
SRP: $5.49 | 1.76 oz
Pickle-Licious Original Pickle Flavoured Cucumber delivers the world’s first real pickle chip with a bold tangy pickle taste and crunchy texture. Made for pickle lovers, this unique better-for-you snack is vegan, full of flavour, and perfect for snacking, sharing, or impulse purchase occasions.
Pistachos maravillosos
Chocolate Sea Salt
SRP: $6.49 | 4 oz
A tempting and indulgent combination of delicious roasted pistachios thinly coated with sea salt and dark chocolate antioxidant goodness. It’s a match made in snack heaven.
Estacional
Ganador:
Ferrara
Brach’s
Crunchy Chewy Jelly Beans – Cherry Punch, Strawberry Punch, Pineapple Punch, Watermelon Punch, Grape Punch, & Orange Punch
SRP: $5.13 | 8 oz
Brach’s Crunchy Chewy Jelly Beans reimagine the iconic Easter jelly bean with an all new multi-texture experience: a crunchy shell, soft gummy center, and bold, fruity flavors- all in one bite.
Finalistas:
Amos Sweets Inc.
Toy Story Doodle Egg Kit with Toy Candy
SRP: $24.99 | 3.81 oz
Utilizes high-precision pulp molding technology to create tactile 3D embossed blank canvases on both the Mega and mini eggs. The “Doodle Egg” contains 18 mini eggs inside. Each mini egg has candy and 1 iconic Disney “Toy Story” character and color palettes for child to draw on the egg surface.
Ferrara
Nerds
Juicy Gummy Clusters – Cupid’s Punch
SRP: $5.13 | 7.15 oz
NERDS Juicy Gummy Clusters- Cupid’s Punch delivers a first-of-its-kind Valentine’s twist: a unique seasonal fruit punch gummy center wrapped in a custom blend of crunchy, tangy NERDS for a crave worthy multi-texture bite.
Promise Confections / Edward Marc Brands
Edward Marc Chocolatier
Lemon Blueberry Clusters
SRP: $5.99 | 6 oz
Blueberry and lemon-flavored waffle cone pretzel clusters.
Astor Chocolate Corp.
Paramount Chocolates
Sour Passion Fruit Filled White Chocolate Style Zombie Brain Truffles
SRP: $2.99 | 1.54 oz
Gross (in a good way) sells! Spooky, brain-shaped truffles ooze sour passion fruit filling from a creamy white chocolate-style shell. Paired with bold comic-style packaging & matching POP. A creepy-cool, viral-ready Halloween hit that grabs Gen Z, sparks impulse buys, and boosts seasonal sales.
Aperitivos dulces
Ganador:
Ferrero North America
Nutella
Ice Cream Cones – 4pk
SRP: $6.49 | 12.2 oz
Nutella Ice Cream Cones combine the world’s most beloved spread with creamy ice cream, all inside a crispy sugar waffle cone. Made with ice cream blended with Nutella® and swirled throughout, every bite delivers rich creaminess and the unmistakable taste of Nutella®.
Finalistas:
Aperitivos Century - Snak Club
Espresso Martini Trail Mix
SRP: $10.99 | 20 oz
Not shaken. Not stirred. Just devoured by the handful. Roasted almonds, espresso martini-flavored mini cookies, milk chocolatey covered almonds, yogurt chips, and milk chocolatey covered espresso beans deliver a sophisticated mix that’s rich, crunchy, creamy and bold. Your new favorite pick-me-up.
Ferrero North America
Kinder Bueno
Classic Cone
SRP: $6.49 | 3.28 oz
Kinder Bueno Classic Cone pioneers the premium cone segment with a distinctive multisensorial experience: creamy hazelnut center, hazelnut core, crispy sugar waffle cone, and a signature melt-in-your-mouth hazelnut disc, driving incremental growth in an underdeveloped segment.
Amos Sweets Inc.
MeloMochi – Dubai Chocolate
SRP: $7.99 | 4.23 oz
Dubai Chocolate-inspired gummy with 3 layers: chewy mochi, fluffy marshmallow, and a crispy pistachio-filled center. A room-temperature “pocket dessert” bridging candy and premium desserts. Its eye-catching cross-section is TikTok-ready for trend-driven Gen Z consumers.
Pistachos maravillosos
Chocolate Toffee
SRP: $6.49 | 4 oz
Meet the ultimate tempting trio,: dark chocolate, toffee, and pistachios. Delicious roasted pistachios and sweet crispy toffee combined with thinly coated dark chocolate antioxidant goodness. A feast of flavors and textures that hit just right in every bite.
