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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Sweet Spot Attracts the Candy Crowd

First there was Comic-Con, now comes Cookie Con. Burbank couple Nancy and Todd Tei are behind the event, which aims to do for sweet treats what Comic-Con International does for blockbuster movies and comic books. Inspired by that huge annual San Diego convention, their event also combines a trade show with a consumer experience. The second annual L.A. Cookie Con and Sweets Show, produced by the couple’s Burbank company AKT Entertainment, will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center Feb. 6-7. More than 125 vendors in the baking industry will be at the event, including Otis Spunkmeyer, Oxnard’s Amoretti, Humboldt Creamery and Sun Valley’s Americana Ingredients. “We (also) have a lot of vendors, both big and small, based in the San Fernando Valley,” said Nancy Tei. “I think for anybody in the baking industry, it’s basically a can’t-miss.” Dan Vardanyan, chief executive of baking supply distributor Americana Ingredients, said the show is an important venue for local bakeries. “L.A. is an important market in the baking industry, but I think it is still lagging behind other markets like New York City and even Dallas,” he said. “I think with this trade show coming to L.A., it will put L.A.’s baking industry on the map.” In addition to vendors, Cookie Con will feature workshops, a kid’s zone, contests, raffles and celebrity appearances by pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel of Food Network’s “Sweet Genius” and Rosanna Pansino, host of YouTube’s “Nerdy Nummies.” Also, the show “Cake Masters” on Food Network is scheduled to film an episode at the event, and star Duff Goldman will present a cake. Based on the success of last year’s Cookie Con, which the Teis held at the Pasadena Convention Center, this year’s event is a much bigger production. There were approximately 4,000 attendees for the inaugural run, and this year, Todd Tei estimates there could be as many as 20,000 over two days. Americana Ingredients’ Vardanyan said Cookie Con is a great opportunity to network his business and sell some product. His company will debut a new line of fondant and cake boards at the February event. One-day tickets are $21 for adults and $10 for children. Two-day passes sell for $35 for adults and $15 for children. – Stephanie Henkel

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