The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has opened nominations for its 2027 industry awards, with entries accepted until Friday 9 October 2026.
The awards recognise retail, wholesale, manufacturing and broker professionals, as well as women whose leadership and mentoring have helped advance the confectionery industry. Recipients will be honoured on Sunday 28 February at a ceremony opening the NCA’s 2027 State of the Industry Conference.
The conference will run from 28 February to 2 March at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. NCA’s annual gathering brings together confectionery leaders and their retail partners for three days of discussion, education and networking. The programme is expected to include retailer-hosted roundtables, original research and the release of the association’s State of Treating report.
CocoaRadar attended the 2026 conference in Florida, where discussion focused on the pressures facing US confectionery companies, including tariffs, instability in cocoa-producing countries, energy costs, softer sales volumes and changing regulatory expectations.
Four Awards Open for Nominations
Two Confectionery Leadership Awards will recognise retail and wholesale professionals who introduce new ideas, deliver measurable category growth and build strong industry partnerships. Eligible candidates include buyers, category managers and retail executives, with nominations accepted from NCA broker and manufacturer members.
The Golden Candy Dish Award is the association’s highest honour for a broker or sales-agency professional. It recognises work to promote, grow and advocate for the confectionery industry, with nominations open to NCA broker and manufacturer members.
The Silver Candy Dish Award recognises a sales, marketing or management professional in confectionery manufacturing whose work with broker networks has contributed to category growth, business development and stronger industry relationships. NCA broker members may submit nominations.
The Woman of Influence Award, presented by NCA’s Women’s Leadership Group, honours a woman who has demonstrated leadership and mentorship while creating opportunities for other women in the industry. Any woman active in confectionery is eligible, and all industry professionals can nominate.
Further information and nomination forms are available on the NCA industry awards page. Details of the 2027 State of the Industry Conference are also available online.
NCA Adds to Senior Team
The awards announcement follows two senior staffing changes at the association.
Paul Kissin has been promoted to vice-president of marketing and technology after more than 10 years with NCA. Previously senior director of marketing and web technology, he has joined the association’s senior staff and will oversee marketing operations and its work on emerging technologies, data and artificial intelligence.
Alex Davidson joined NCA in July as senior director of public affairs and communications. He will lead strategic communications on legislative, regulatory, environmental and consumer issues affecting the confectionery industry. Davidson previously served as senior director of public affairs at the National Turkey Federation and has also held roles at the Beer Institute and on Capitol Hill.
CocoaRadar in Peru
During October 2026, CocoaRadar will publish a series of articles exploring the Peruvian cocoa economy.
Commercial: philippe@cocoaradar.com Editorial: tony@cocoaradar.com