Exploring 2024’s Honey-Sweetened Products: Highlights from Trade Show Floors

As we wrap up another exciting year, we’re taking a look back at our trade show experiences that led to the discovery of innovative products that showcased some of the biggest trends of the year. Honey's versatility and appeal were showcased from coast to coast, from the more than 3,000 exhibitors at Natural Products Expo West, to the Sweet & Snacks Expo successful move to Indianapolis, to the fanciest of the East: Summer Fancy Food Show. Honey was a star ingredient in some truly remarkable creations, some of which grabbed coveted awards.

Here are a few standout products that caught our eye and exemplified how brands are leveraging honey to create unique, delicious and marketable goods.

The Swicy Explosion

Hot Honey Barbecue Sauce, Rib Rack
The hot honey flavor explosion is still trending, and Rib Racks Hot Honey Barbecue Sauce is a prime example. This sweet and spicy sauce combines real honey with fiery chili peppers to deliver barbecue perfection. Crafted with high-quality ingredients, it’s a standout for flavor-forward consumers seeking a balance of heat and sweetness.

Honey Habanero, Hero Jerky
Hero Jerky’s Honey Habanero flavor offers a handcrafted treat made from premium, never frozen, naturally smoked beef. The see-through packaging—featuring a striking honeycomb design—highlights the role of honey in this bold and spicy snack, making it a visually and tastefully appealing option for adventurous eaters.

Snackification Nation

Honey Barbecue Twists, Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks
Pipcorn Snacks stays on the newstalgic trend with Honey Barbecue Twists. Made from upcycled heirloom corn flour and sweetened with honey, these light and crispy twists bring honey barbecue flavor to life while supporting sustainability and innovation.

Honey Jalapeño Beef Jerky, Crockett Creek
At the Sweets & Snacks Expo, Crockett Creek’s Honey Jalapeño Beef Jerky stood out with its Southern heritage-inspired recipe. Featuring real jalapeños and a touch of honey, this small-batch jerky offers a slow-building heat balanced by sweet, soothing flavors—perfect for snack lovers seeking swicy combos.

Breakfast of Sweet Champions

Simply Honey Oat Protein Cereal, Seven Sundays
Protein is a hot trend prediction for 2025, making Seven Sundays ahead of its time! Upcycled oat protein, non-GMO corn, cassava starch, coconut oil and sea salt are mixed with honey—coated in nostalgia and rooted in today’s reality—with future generations in mind.

Organic Grain-Free Cereals, Lovebird
Lovebird is making it easy to nosh on a breakfast staple. Strawberry and Honey cereals are organic, grain-free and packed with prebiotic fiber to support gut health. With honey listed prominently as an ingredient, these cereals offer a wholesome way to rise and fly.

Confection Connection: Honey as a Premium Ingredient

Peanut Butter Cup Truffle Treat, Honey Mama’s
Honey Mama’s continues to innovate, and this year’s star at Expo West was the debut of Peanut Butter Cup Truffle Treat. Made with only eight real ingredients, including honey as the sole sweetener, this creamy indulgence elevates the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing.

Salted Honey Caramels, Bee Grateful Farm
These caramels, crafted with wildflower and alfalfa honeys, deliver delicate notes of toasted vanilla and sweet cream. Finished with pink salt, they’re extra creamy, gluten-free and irresistibly delicious—a true celebration of honey.

Honey in Unexpected Places

Ginger Turmeric Honey Peanuts, We Are Nuts
A finalist for Most Innovative Product at the Sweets & Snacks Expo, these peanuts are layered with fermented ginger, turmeric, Thai chili and honey, then coated in toffee. The result is a bold, flavorful snack that pushes the boundaries of traditional sweet and savory combinations.

Honey Sesame Toasted Coconut Chips, Reelfruit
For a lighter option, Reelfruit’s Toasted Coconut Chips sprinkled with honey and sesame seeds deliver a sweet, savory and crunchy experience. These on-the-go snacks showcase honey’s ability to enhance natural flavors.

2024’s trade shows reaffirmed that honey is more than just a sweetener—it’s a versatile ingredient that elevates flavors, enhances nutrition, and tells a story of authenticity. Whether you’re a product developer or brand manager, the opportunities to innovate and market with honey are endless! From spicy jerkies to nostalgic snacks and indulgent confections, honey continues to inspire and delight consumers across categories. We can’t wait to see what honey-inspired creations will hit the shelves in 2025!