Mars, Incorporated will take its largest product innovation slate to the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Las Vegas from May 19–21, 2026, positioning new flavors, formats and textures as its answer to accelerating consumer demand across both physical and digital retail channels. The privately held candy and snack maker — whose portfolio spans M&M's, Snickers, Twix and Skittles — did not disclose revenue projections or unit-volume targets tied to the launch slate. The company characterized the new offerings as designed to "win every snacking occasion," a phrase that signals broader shelf and basket-size ambitions at a moment when the global confectionery market is projected by industry analysts to exceed $300 billion in retail value by 2028. Mars enters the expo as the acknowledged category leader in chocolate confectionery, competing against Mondelēz International, Hershey and Ferrero for premium shelf placement and occasions-based marketing. The Sweets & Snacks Expo, organized by the National Confectioners Association, draws roughly 18,000 registered attendees and more than 800 exhibiting companies annually, making it the primary North American venue where snack and candy manufacturers court major retailers ahead of back-half seasonal resets. Securing prominent placement at the show carries direct implications for holiday and back-to-school sell-in negotiations. The company said its booth presentations would be anchored by "data-backed insights shaping the future of snacking" — language that suggests Mars plans to present proprietary shopper analytics to retail buyers as part of its pitch. This approach mirrors a broader industry shift, covered in [F&B Industry News reporting on consumer-trends](/consumer-trends/snacking-occasions-data-retail-pitch), toward manufacturers positioning themselves as category-management partners rather than simple product suppliers. No specific new SKUs, price points or retail distribution windows were disclosed in the company's advance notice. Mars is expected to provide additional detail at its expo booth. Analysts tracking the better-for-you and permissible-indulgence segments will watch whether the new formats skew toward portion-controlled or premium-ingredient positioning — two vectors where [challenger brands have gained measurable share in recent quarters](/market-analysis/confectionery-challenger-brands-share-gains). Mars has previously cited texture innovation, including its Snickers Hi Protein line, as a strategic growth driver in adjacent snacking dayparts. Written by Michael Politz, Author of [Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1)](https://www.amazon.com/Beverage-Magazines-Guide-Restaurant-Success/dp/1119668964), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.