All Candy Expo

Things That Stood Out In 2006

1. 1. "Retro" Candy companies seemed to have more fun. Companies like Judson-Atkinson Candies, Goetze's, and Necco all had great people who took the time to chat and truly it felt like they understood their brands and loved their jobs.
2. Two days in the "world's largest candy store" is just too much ... I can't imagine how I would feel if I hadn't skipped the last day of the show!
3. What was the purpose of the Candy Room?
   
   Outside of the day after Thanksgiving, I haven't seen adults push and shove each other trying to get something like what I saw in the Candy Room at the Expo.
   
   Basically you had a room and each person was given a sample bag in which to put a selection of candies to take home with them. Occasionally a "really good" treat was put out into one of the bins and all hell breaks loose.
   
   While I was in there, they dumped a bunch of Beer Nuts cans and people ran from one side of the room to the other just to get it before someone else did. NUTS!
4. What were kids doing at a tradeshow?
   
   Repeatedly I saw kids with bags overflowing with candy and the smiling parents doing nothing to curb the little piggy's penchant for sugary snacks.
5. What am I going to do with all these samples that jumped into my own bags?
   
   I wasn't trying to collect stuff ... honest! But now my kitchen table features a collection of candies and snacks ranging from Garfield's Chocobites (M&M knockoff) to SweetTarts Squeez and various foreign candies that I don't even remember picking up (or know what they even are).
6. Mint and Watermelon DON'T mix!
   
   I don't care how awesome the brand guys for Extra think the name "Cool Watermelon" sounds ... the flavor SUCKS.