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CANDY EXPOSITION TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION

MCLEAN, Va. -- The first annual All Candy Expo, slated to be held June 10 to 14 next year, will be a learning experience for supermarket retailers, according to the association that organized it."Supermarkets is one area that we're very interested in. Supermarkets don't do all they can with candy, so we hope they come and see this," said Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association

MCLEAN, Va. -- The first annual All Candy Expo, slated to be held June 10 to 14 next year, will be a learning experience for supermarket retailers, according to the association that organized it.

"Supermarkets is one area that we're very interested in. Supermarkets don't do all they can with candy, so we hope they come and see this," said Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association here, which is co-hosting the event with Retail Confectioners International.

Along with supermarkets, buyers from other retail channels are being invited, said Graham.

The show is the first of its kind because it will focus entirely on candy. Currently, the American Wholesaler Manufacturers Association runs two shows a year that include candy, and also several other categories, including snacks and tobacco.

But RCI and NCA -- acting at the behest of buyers and manufacturers -- decided that a candy-dedicated convention was necessary.

Graham said the show will be different from existing ones because it will focus on education.

"We see the educational part of this, not just the display part, as being one of the many things that's going to separate it from some of the other shows that are out there," Graham said.

The NCA has planned eight educational seminars to take place during the exposition. Topics being considered include "Why is candy critical to retailers?"; "Expand your share of the confectionery category"; "Understanding the confectionery consumer," and "Maximizing seasonal potential of confection." Workshops are being targeted to retailers only, Graham said.

In addition to offering attendees educational workshops, Graham is excited about the added element of the second half of the exposition -- the Machinery, Ingredient and Supply show.

More than 500 exhibits at the Navy Pier in Chicago have been sold, Graham said.