Harken Sweets Wins NIQ’s Third Annual Pitch Slam at Consumer 360® Event

Five Finalists Competed for the Grand Prize in Front of a Live Panel of Judges, With Harken Sweets Coming out on Top

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NielsenIQ (NIQ) has announced the winner of its third annual Pitch Slam competition during NIQ’s Consumer 360^® (C360^®) event. The five finalists—Daybird, Evergreen, Harken Sweets, Mingle Beverage Company, and Pricklee—went head-to-head competing for a grand prize valued at over $700,000 in cash and in-kind services, with Harken Sweets winning the hearts of the judges and audience members.

Harken Sweets was founded by Harvard Business School graduate Katie Lefkowitz in 2022, who—after a personal health scare—was determined to reinvent candy as we know it. With no added sugar, plant-based ingredients, and prebiotic fiber, Harken Sweets delivers classic chocolate joy that’s gut-friendly, dairy-free, and loves you back.

In winning the Pitch Slam competition, Harken Sweets will now have exclusive access to NIQ’s data experts to help build their brand through the lens of best-in-class data and analytics, in addition to the cash prize.

“We are thrilled to recognize the innovative spirit and exceptional talent demonstrated by this year's Pitch Slam winner. Their groundbreaking ideas and dedication to excellence embody the very essence of what this competition stands for,” said NIQ’s Andrew Criezis, President of Omni-commerce. “At NIQ, we believe in fostering creativity and supporting visionary entrepreneurs who are shaping the future. Congratulations to Katie and Harken Sweets for their remarkable achievement and for inspiring us all with their ingenuity and passion.”

As one of the largest CPG pitch slams of the year for founding entrepreneurs, this C360^® mainstage event provides a rare opportunity for emerging CPG brand makers to pitch their greatest innovations and transformative products.

“We are incredibly honored to have won NIQ’s Pitch Slam competition. This recognition is a testament to our mission of reinventing candy with health and joy at its core,” said Katie Lefkowitz, founder of Harken Sweets. “We are excited to leverage NIQ’s expertise to further our vision and bring Harken Sweets to even more people who are looking for a candy bar that loves them back.”

For further information, including eligibility details and the application process for the NIQ Pitch Slam competition, please visit the NIQ website at niq.com/pitchslam.

About NIQ

NielsenIQ (NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. NIQ combined with GfK in 2023, bringing together two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. Our global reach spans over 90 countries covering approximately 85% of the world's population and more than $7.2 trillion in global consumer spend. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View^™.

For more information, please visit www.niq.com

About Harken Sweets

Harken Sweets reimagines joy-inspiring, iconic treats, infusing them with superfood fruits that nourish and satiate. Harken products use the date fruit as its hero ingredient, resulting in nutrient-rich products that are lower in calories, sugar, and fat than traditional offerings. By innovating a new market category, Harken is reimagining indulgence so that Americans finally can LOVE CANDY AGAIN.