The show continues to represent "the future and heart of sweets and snacks," as its theme proclaimed.

So what are the hot trending chocolate and confectionery products? A tasting safari through the show, which is the West Coast’s largest trade show dedicated to premium food products, revealed the following fab five

Sugar and sweeteners may seem like they’re being under attack, with rising health concerns as well as the FDA’s proposal to include a separate “added sugars” line on nutrition facts labels. But not all sweeteners are created equal.

Confections fortified with healthy ingredients help us reach our goal a little faster, easier and in a more tasteful way than ever before.

According to the show’s organizers, the Specialty Food Association (SFA), this year’s show was the largest ever

While attending the Sweets and Snacks Expo, I tried approx. 5,348 (give or take) pieces of candy (give or take). And while all that sugar made me crash pretty hard, I was still able to make some order from the chaos.

In our sweeter-than-most confectionery industry, I’d say that most companies, be they large or small, fared fairly decently. I recognize that many of you are already wondering what kind of Kool-Aid I’m sipping while writing this.