The 2025 Sweets & Snacks Convention took over the Indianapolis Convention Center last week.
The annual expo highlighting local, national and global snack food businesses returned to Indianapolis May 13-15. Everything from Nana’s Bangin’ Carmel Corn and Grandpa Earl’s Amish-made pretzels to Mars, Nabisco and Kraft were represented on the showroom floor, showcasing all the latest innovations in snacking and sweet treats.
I sampled a lot of sweets and even more snacks. Here are my top 5 bites:
Chef Flavas
Chef Flavas is a Black-owned American-style restaurant based in Memphis, Tennessee, and is operated by Mr. and Mrs. Flava — a.k.a. Chris and Regina Moore. Their booth at the convention was simple but offered the best thing I ate all day: a Spinach artichoke dip. It was creamy, smooth and just the right balance of flavor. It was arguably the best thing I ate all day, and I’m definitely adding it to my grocery list next week.
The spinach artichoke dip and other Chef Flava products are available at Kroger and Walmart.
Fat & Weird Cookie
Created by Aubrie and Brad Bromlow in 2018, Fat and Weird Cookie is precisely what it sounds like. The brand offers a somewhat interesting take with thick, filling-stuffed cookies in various bizarre but tasty flavor combinations you can either heat up in an air fryer or freeze for later. I don’t necessarily think it’s the most innovative cookie on the market, but it was delicious, and I loved the cookie I tried at Sweets & Snacks.
The “Some More,” (formerly “Pitchin’ Tents”) flavor is a nod to the traditional S’mores, with a graham cracker base, marshmallow core and Hershey’s mini kisses and chocolate chip mix-ins.
Fat & Weird Cookies are available to order through DoorDash and GoPuff.
READ MORE: Diversity takes center stage at Sweets & Snacks Expo
Fudgie Wudgie
I don’t tend to eat fudge because it’s usually too sweet for me. That said, Fudgie Wudgie had some truly incredible samples at the convention. Based in Grove City, PA, the fudge and chocolate factory has been in business for more than 30 years, specializing in handcrafted small-batch fudge, according to their website.
Evidently, they’ve perfected it, because the mint chocolate fudge I tried was delectable and just melted in my mouth. It was hard to move on because their sister businesses — Chocolate Moonshine Company and Compassion Pops — also had some really tasty treats that I tried.
Fudgie Wudgie products are available to shop online.
Katjes Gummies
Katje’s Gummies is a German, family-owned, vegan confectionery brand that’s been around since the 1950s. I got to try some of their new Cosmic Visions sour gummies during the convention, and I’m hooked. The bag features a variety of tropical flavored gummies in the shape of tarot cards, moons and stars, that are sweet on the first bite and sour in the middle.
The ingredients list is simple as the products are plant-based as of 2016 and are free of animal gelatin, palm oil and red dyes 40 and 3. It’s an interesting concept, great for casual snacking or a little treat. Plus, the packaging is really cute.
Katje’s Gummies are currently available on Amazon and in select Walgreens
Zesty Z
Created by Alexander Harik and Lorraine Georg-Harik, the mother-son business boasts a “new” pita chip that is higher in fiber and lower in carbs. Nutrient-rich casual snacks seemed to be the big thing at this year’s convention. I swear, more than half of everything I was offered boasted a healthy portion of fiber or protein — including Khloe Kardashian’s new protein popcorn Khloud. However, Zesty Z’s “twice-baked” pita chips had to be my favorite.
The chips are flavorful with a nice crunch, and the sea salt flavor would definitely pair well with Chef Flava’s spinach artichoke dip. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Zesty Z’s first launched in April 2024 with the goal of being the next best pita chip.
Zesty Z is available online and in select Meijer stores.
Honorable mentions
Breath Rox
Breath Rox was created by Lynn Hesson in 2013, and in 2023, Jonathan Tanner and his wife purchased the brand to completely revamp it. Today, Breath Rox is a Sugar-free Pop Rocks breath mint company. Crazy, I know. I was skeptical at first, too, but it turned out to be a really fun treat.
The mints come in a small candy tube and feature 4 flavors: mint, cinnamon, watermelon and blue raspberry. I tried them all, and I think watermelon might be my favorite, although the mint flavor makes the most sense. It’s a niche market and kind of bizarre, but innovative and family owned.
Breath Rox is available online.
Toddler Mum-Mum
From everything I saw at the convention, Toddler Mum-Mum’s plant-based wafer sticks were the only snack for toddlers. The booth also had snacks for infants, but I was more interested in something my 18-month-old nephew could enjoy. Toddler Mum-Mums is a product of Want-Want Foods, which has been making rice snacks since 1962.
The wafer sticks, which are advertised for children 18 months and up, are gluten-free with 2 grams of protein per serving. There are 14 sticks per bag and come in two flavors: White cheddar cheese and banana & strawberry. I got both and my nephew seems to enjoy them equally.
Toddler Mum-Mum is sold in Kroger, Target, Walmart, Fresh Thyme and Buy Buy Baby.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
