The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo opens in Chicago on May 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Miao Zhuang)

CHICAGO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo (SSE) opened in Chicago Tuesday.

More than 760 companies, from the largest multinational firms to boutique and gourmet snack manufacturers, put on show their candies, chocolates, biscuits and snacks at the McCormick Place, attracting some 17,000 candy and snack professionals from 90 countries and regions.

Such big names in candy industry as Lindt, Hershey, Russell Stover, Jelly Belly, GoBitos, Meiji, M&Ms, and Dove all showed up at the expo, which is hosted by U.S. National Confectioners Association.

Different from the previous sessions, the 2017 Expo, the 20th session in a row, added a Small Business Innovator Award, designated to recognize incubating companies with net sales of 500,000 dollars and under.

It is learned that as the companies exhibiting here have produced 90 percent of candy and 75 percent of snacks in the world, the expo is really a must-see event.

The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo opens in Chicago on May 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Miao Zhuang)

Guangdong Wonderful Foods Group Corp Ltd. exhibited its products at the show for the first time. The Chinese company has been in import, export and manufacturing business of candy for more than 20 years. It has been dealing with and manufacturing for Disney, Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, and Minion.

Richard Tso told Xinhua that the Chinese company brings its new product, sugar-free Kool Ice this time.

The National Confectioners Association is a trade organization in the U.S. that advances, protects and promotes chocolate, candy, gum and mints, as well as companies that make these special treats. Confections are produced in all 50 states in U.S. now, creating jobs for approximately 55,000 workers in more than 1,000 manufacturing facilities.