Washington, D.C. – Members of the National Confectioners Association are encouraged to nominate outstanding retail or wholesale customers for the 2018 Confectionery Leadership Award. The distinguished award recognizes the most innovative and passionate leaders and champions of the industry.
The Confectionery Leadership Award, hosted by NCA in collaboration with Candy & Snack TODAY (CST) magazine, showcases top customers on an industry-wide level for their effective business collaboration, category management best practices and innovations in merchandising confectionery products in-store.
“Retail leadership in the confectionery category is vital to conveying the excitement and fun our treats bring to consumers,” says Teresa Tarantino, editor-in-chief of CST. “The Confectionery Leadership Award recognizes the individuals who set the standard by continually bringing excitement to consumers’ in-store experiences. Every year we look forward to sharing and learning from the successes of these best-in-class trendsetters and gaining inspiration from their energy and enthusiasm for the category.”
Award honorees are invited to participate in the taste panel for the Sweet & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards and will be highlighted year-round in various NCA vehicles, including CST. The 2017 recipients of the prestigious award were Christina Groth from The Kroger Co. and Brian Rinker from Walgreen Co. Notable past recipients include Mike Maslen, Hudson Group, Tim Tackett, Giant Eagle, Inc. and Tim Erceg, Hy-Vee..
2018 Confectionery Leadership Award nominees will be accepted through Monday, October 23. The award will be presented in March at NCA’s State of the Industry Conference in Miami where hundreds of the industry’s most elite gather to network with colleagues and gain invaluable insights applicable to their businesses.
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About the National Confectioners Association (NCA)
The National Confectioners Association is the trade organization that advances, protects and promotes chocolate, candy, gum and mints, and the companies that make these special treats. As the leading association for the $35 billion U.S. confectionery industry, NCA educates the public to help ensure that it understands and appreciates the unique role that chocolate and candy can play in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Confections are produced in all 50 states, creating jobs for approximately 55,000 workers in more than 1,000 manufacturing facilities across the country. More than 400,000 jobs in agriculture, retail, transportation and other industries rely in part on the sale of confections for their livelihood. For every one job that is created by confectionery companies, another seven are supported in related industries. Learn more about the “Power of Sweet” at CandyUSA.com, or follow NCA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Source: National Confectioners Association (NCA)