2023 Panelists Coming Soon!
Jan Nichols
Vice President of Floral and Home; Hy-Vee
At Hy-Vee, we are always innovating and finding new ways to excite our customers, especially in the candy category, and the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us stay ahead of the curve. We continuously seek new and exciting products that will prompt impulse buys. Most importantly, we’ve recently adapted our merchandising strategy to meet the shopping behaviors of our digital customers, whether they shop through our e-commerce grocery platform, Hy-Vee Aisles Online, or use our in-store mobile payment technology, Hy-Vee Scan & Go.
Kayla Verney
Category Merchant; BJ’s Wholesale Club
Innovation helps drive my business by allowing me to bring new exciting trends and items to my members. Thanks to what I find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, product innovation provides an extension to our core items and a “treasure hunt” experience in club.
Jenny Schossow
Merchandising Director – Convenience Food; Walmart
Innovation is a key pillar to our success at Walmart as we strive to surprise and delight the consumer with every checkout experience.
Deb Sammon
Category Growth Manager; Coborn’s
The innovation we find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us identify new opportunities for growth with our existing customers and find ways to attract new customers.
Jennifer Dilts
Sr. Director of Merchandising; Dollar General
The innovation that we find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo drives trial and brings new consumers to our category, which is essential for our continued growth
Grant Demers
Vice President of Sales, Mass & Club; McLane Company
Filtered through a logistics lens, innovation helps drive improvements in efficiency, accuracy, food/teammate/driver safety, and product flow throughout the supply chain.
Meredith Stringer
CM – Bulk, Coffee, Candy; The Fresh Market
Innovation adds elements of surprise and delight that create a positive customer experience. Continued focus on innovative items and assortments drives sales and keeps customers dedicated and engaged.
Susan Grassey
Category Manager – Candy & Seasonal General Merchandise; Harris Teeter
The new item innovation we discover at the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps create excitement in the candy category.
Todd Gean
Category Manager – Candy; Hy-Vee
The innovation found at the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us create excitement in our category and stay on trend.
Yoshie Fujii
Merchandising Director – Seasonal Candy; Walmart
The Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us explore new items, understand new trends and find innovation to bring our customers excitement.
Alyssa Snyr
Category Manager – Candy & Snacks; S. Abraham & Sons Inc.
Innovation is key to showing we are in front of changes, rather than following behind. With some of the big players putting pauses on innovation, we have been able to give more opportunities to some lesser-known vendors and grow new and exciting brands.
Jeff Rubin
President & CEO; IT’SUGAR
Innovation and “newness” is everything. It is the largest contributor to our year-over-year same store growth, and the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us make that happen!
Marcus Anderson
Category Manager – Snacks, Snack Bars & Nuts; Walgreens
The innovation we find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo drives excitement in the category and drives trial. People love to talk about the new flavor of potato chip or new type of chocolate bar.
Holly Adrien
Manager – Natural & Organic Strategy & Innovation; The Kroger Co.
Innovation is an important part of our business at The Kroger Co as we aim to ensure our customers are able to find all products they are looking for! The Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us meet our innovation goals every time.
Stephanie Panzetta
Category Manager – Candy & Snacks; Weis Markets
The innovation I find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps drive incremental purchases by exciting our customers with the opportunity to try something new.
Mark Jechura
Merchandising Director – Basic Candy; Walmart, Inc
I attend the Sweets & Snacks Expo to see the latest and greatest innovation, which is essential for building sustainable category growth, incentivizing incremental purchases and maintaining customer interest and relevance.
Mike Keller
Category Manager, Circle K – Northern Tier
The innovation we find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo creates excitement for our consumers as they try new products and continue to drive sales growth.
Lindy Smith
Senior Director – Category Management; Maverik
The innovation at the Sweets & Snacks Expo keeps customers excited, and thanks to the show, they know they can always find these new items at their favorite Maverik.
Chris Lindstedt
AVP – Merchandising; IT’SUGAR
Innovation is what we live for and a vital key to our success! We are always trying to be ahead of the next trends and push ourselves to figure out what those are. Ultimately, we want to be the ones to set the pace and deliver the innovation to the rest of the industry.
Ashley Borden
Director of Merchandise; Murphy USA
With the ever-changing customer profile, innovation is imperative across category assortments. The customers want to be at the forefront of any new trend. It is our job to be there for them.
Sarah Bibbs
Senior Director of Merchandising; Core-Mark/Eby-Brown
Innovation is necessary to grow the categories, draw in new consumers and provide an opportunity for incremental sales
Kathy Douglas
DMM/Director of Merchandise North America; Paradies Lagardère
We have trend savvy customers in the airport channel who expect to see newness and innovation in our selections. The Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us test not only new products but also new presentation and merchandising to enhance the customer experience in our shops.
Robin Gutridge
Senior Category Manager; Raley’s
Innovation keeps the manufacturer and retailer relevant to the consumer and drives incremental growth. The new product launches we find at the Sweets & Snacks Expo are the spark that keeps everyone engaged and searching for more.
Peter Kempton
Category Manager; Travel Centers of America
The innovation we discover at the Sweets & Snacks Expo is a great way to drive trial while tying in core business purchases.
Emily Gordon
Senior Category Manager – Take Home & Seasonal Candy; Walgreens
Innovation brings life into the category and supports the classics with a fun and fresh option, especially for our younger consumers. It’s a great testing playground to see what just could be the next big idea.
Lisa Ham
Director of Merchandising & Space Planning; Yesway
Innovation is a key player in our business, and the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps us meet our innovation goals. Customers are always looking for the next best thing, whether that’s in technology, foodservice or candy & snacks. Ensuring you are up to date with the latest innovations and trends lets customers know they can count on your business should they be in the mood to try something new.
Mayra Falcon Fernandez
Category Manager – Salty and Alternative Snacks; Murphy USA
Innovation helps us grow and stay ahead of the market, and what we find at the show helps us capture the interest and attention of our regular or new costumers.
Tabitha Sewell
Director, Category Management; KeHE Distributors
KeHE’s Category Management team is constantly foraging for new brands and products to stay ahead of trends and keep our assortment exciting for our retailers and customers.
Jim Hachtel
Director of Category Management; Core-Mark/Eby-Brown
Innovation keeps the candy and snack categories fresh and interesting to consumers, and we can drive constant growth in our retailers’ stores by keeping the innovation pipeline filled with exciting new items that consumers are demanding.
Brian Freel
Category Director; Family Dollar
Innovation is key to driving sustainable growth for the category, and the Sweets & Snacks Expo helps bring new opportunities for innovation to our customers.
