CHICAGO — New salty snacks reigned at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which took place in Chicago May 22-25 with over 800 exhibitors attending.

Salty snacks always have been popular, but the 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo saw companies combine consumers’ craving for salt with other popular flavors, like sweet and spicy.

The Kellogg Co., for example, is expanding into spice with its Pringles brand, which debuted two Mexican-inspired flavors, as well as a scorchin’ sour cream flavor.

“I think it’s just a merger of trends,” said Jessica Watson, director portfolio marketing, snacking at the Kellogg Co. “I think our palates are evolving, spiciness is evolving. And I think that really kind of just hits an intersection of a multitude of different trends that our consumers are craving right now.”

Other salty and spicy snacks that made their debut at the show include cheddar jalapeño SkinnyPop popcorn, jumbo Frank’s RedHot sunflower seeds from David Seeds and spicy nacho puffs from the Hershey Co.’s better-for-you One brand.

On the other side of the flavor palate. there were plenty of salty-sweet snacks introduced at the show, as well. The Hershey Co. debuted its Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels brand, with a cinnamon sugar-flavored addition, and the Reese’s brand introduced salty popcorn that is drizzled with its peanut-butter-and-chocolate-combination.

Click to view new salty snacks from the 2023 Sweets & Snacks Expo.