At this month’s State-of-the-Industry Conference organized by the National Confectioners Association, several speakers reinforced the health and wellness trend as it applies to confections and snacks. At an early morning supplier member meeting featuring executives from Mondelez International, it became clear that this multinational’s focus rests on “well-being snacks.” 

Among the winners were 11 American craft chocolate makers and 18 confectioners, who received their awards before a crowd of about 900 people assembled in the Herbst Theater, a historic landmark that hosted the signing of the United Nations charter in 1945. 

The global industrial chocolate market is expected to grow by 3 percent over the next five years, according to a new report by London-based research firm Technavio.