News in brief

Natra to source 100% certified cocoa by 2020

Spanish-based chocolate and cocoa ingredients firm Natra has committed to sourcing 100% certified cocoa by 2020.

Cocoa processing migrating to origin, says ADM

Cocoa processing is increasingly moving to origin countries, particularly those in regions where chocolate consumption is rising such as Brazil and Indonesia, according to ADM Cocoa’s head of innovation.

Cargill starts construction of $100m Indonesian cocoa processing plant

Ingredients supplier Cargill has broken ground on its first cocoa processing facility in Asia located in Gresik, in the East Java region of Indonesia.

Fair Trade USA: Draft policy changes no hoax

Fair Trade USA claims that draft changes to its labeling policy allowing brands with 20% certified ingredients to carry its logo are justified in composite products like chocolate because components...

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Cocoa flavanol content varies depending on origin, says Callebaut

Barry Callebaut’s innovation department has revealed that the level of cocoa flavanols, which are associated with a string of positive health effects, vary depending on where beans are sourced....

Ecuadorian cocoa wins vote of ADM and Cargill R&D chiefs

On a recent site visit, ADM Cocoa and Cargill both agreed that cocoa beans from Ecuadorian origin were the best tasting for chocolate.

News in brief

Asian cocoa grind falls 10.8%

Cocoa grinds in Asia were widely expected to rise but have declined sharply by 10.8% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to last year.

NGO questions Fair Trade USA chocolate labeling ‘hoax’

Not-for-profit organization Fair World Project has criticized changes to Fair Trade USA's labeling policy, which allows chocolate to carry the seal when it contains a high percentage of other ingredients...

News in brief

Mondelez and Callebaut up cocoa sustainability efforts

Mondelez International and Barry Calleabut have announced two projects within their broader commitments to cocoa sustainability.

European Q1 cocoa grind lowest since 2009

Europe’s first quarter (Q1) cocoa grind slumped 3.9% on last year as the debt crisis hampered chocolate demand in struggling economies.

Regular cocoa flavanol intake could help maintain brain health – study

New research claims regularly eating cocoa flavanols could protect people from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Lower cocoa prices dent Callebaut profits

Barry Callebaut has reported a slight dip in half-year profits as lower cocoa prices meant customers were paying less for the company’s range of cocoa ingredients compared to last year....

Large fertilizer shipment to Ivory Coast expected to double cocoa yields

A 10,000 ton shipment of fertilizer arrived in the principal cocoa growing nation Ivory Coast today as part of an industry-backed initiative to double productivity on cocoa farms.

Oxfam fallout: Mars pledges to empower women cocoa farmers

Mars Chocolate promises to assess conditions for women cocoa farmers and will sign up to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles after Oxfam accused it of neglecting gender inequality.

News in brief

Hershey: 10% certified cocoa by 2013

Hershey has set milestones to certify its entire cocoa supply by 2020 and hopes that 10% will be covered by the end of the year.

EU sugar deficit will not grow, says Euromonitor

The EU’s sugar quota fell three million metric tons short of demand in 2012 leading to an 11% price hike, but the deficit is not expected to increase due to...

A peek at Lindt’s sustainable cocoa commitments

ConfectioneryNews.com examines the sustainable cocoa commitments of one of the leading premium chocolate makers, Lindt, after it announced a big charitable investment last week. 

Hershey defends commitment on sustainable cocoa

Hershey has called attacks on its text messaging tips for farmers program CocoaLink “disingenuous” after a group of NGOs questioned the effectiveness of the project.

EU sugar quotas should go by 2017, says Council of the EU

The Council of the European Union last night issued a mandate to scrap EU sugar quotas by 2017 and a final decision is now set for June.

Cocoa child labor: Story so far

Industry pledges reach $10m on cocoa child labor but ‘job is not done’

The industry has pledged $10m in new funds since 2010 to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, but a newly released report says the job is far from over.

Big Vote - CAP Reform

EU sugar quotas extended to 2020

EU sugar quotas will remain in place in Europe until 2020 after a vote on Common Agricultural Policy reforms (CAP) in European Parliament today.

Brazil’s cocoa import reliance leaves chocolate market vulnerable, says Mintel

Brazil’s reliance on cocoa imports exposes the domestic chocolate market to price variation, according to market analysts Mintel.

News in brief

SunOpta to up cocoa processing capacity

SunOpta plans to increase its cocoa processing capacity with a new facility in Middenmeer, Netherlands as it looks to grow its organic and specialty cocoa business to serve the specialty...

Nestlé promises action to improve women’s lives on cocoa farms

Chocolate giant Nestlé has written to Oxfam promising action on inequality in the cocoa supply chain.