Cocoa

Farmers cracking cocoa pods, Ghana. Pic: MIA

Op-ed

Reality check: What can we do about cocoa’s price?

By Brett Beach & Dr Kristy Leissle

In this exclusive op-ed for ConfectioneryNews by Brett Beach, Co-founder of sustainable chocolate brand Made in Africa (MIA), and Dr Kristy Leissle, a member of CN’s editorial board and the author of numerous books and articles on cocoa and industry politics,...

'Improvements in the taste of stevia have come a long way'. Pic: HOWTIAN

Sugar reduction special edition

How natural sweeteners became a gamechanger for confectionery

By Anthony Myers

Consumers are trying to reduce or avoid sugar, and the demand for low or no sugar alternatives is rising in 2022 for the growing health-conscious public, with research suggesting more than 60% of US consumers wish there were healthier chocolate options...

Luker Chocolates' new natural sweetener range. Pic: Luke Chocolate

‘Better-for-you’

Luker Chocolate launches new sweetener range

By Anthony Myers

Luker Chocolate, the family-owned, Colombian chocolate manufacturer, has developed a new range of covertures that includes erythritol & stevia, which it says is being driven by an increase in consumer and client demand.

Luker Chocolate's new caramel 'Sensación'. Pic: Luker Choclate

NPD

Luker Chocolate creates new caramel ‘Sensación’

By Anthony Myers

Colombian B4B chocolate manufacturer Luker Chocolate is hitting the caramel flavour with a new chocolate couverture, crafted at origin, using the company’s signature Cacao Fino de Aroma and incorporating its sustainability practices.

Cadmium is a problem for cocoa farmers mainly in Central and South America. Pic: Republica del Cacao

Special report

How to reduce cadmium in cocoa

By Anthony Myers

The result of a three-year study by a multi-disciplinary panel of four experts into the sources of lead and cadmium in cocoa and chocolate - and how levels may be reduced in the future - has been published by the National Confectioners Association (NCA)...

Cameroon has announced an increase in its cocoa output, Pic: tridge.com

Commodities

Cameroon records slight increase in annual cocoa production

By Anthony Myers

Compared to 292,471 tonnes of beans produced and marketed during the 2020-2021 season, Cameroon’s Office national du cacao et du Café (ONCC) said a total of 295,163 tonnes of beans were harvested in the 2021-2022 season.

Nigeria is the fourth largest cocoa-producing country in the world. Pic: CN

Commodities

Nigeria informs ICCO of plans to increase cocoa production

By Anthony Myers

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, has doubled down on the country’s pledge to increase its cocoa production from the present 340,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes by 2024.

Olam believes it is 'well-positioned' for 2022. Pic: Olam Group

Financial results

Olam remains confident of ofi IPO after a rise in Group profits

By Anthony Myers

The Olam Group said it remains cautiously optimistic about its prospects for the rest of the year, despite global supply chain issues, and confirmed it still intends to go ahead with the ofi IPO – favourable market conditions permitting.

Chocolate dream: A new initiative from HAPPi and Luker Chocolate aims to nurture children in sustainable cocoa practices. Pic: Luker Chocolate

Sustainability

HAPPi invests in future cocoa change-makers with Luker Chocolate

By Anthony Myers

Oat m!lk chocolate brand, HAPPi, is teaming up with Luker Chocolate to create Kids for Nature, an exciting new project that aims to protect the remarkable wildlife of Colombia by educating the next generation to become guardians of their ecosystem.

Most of the cacao produced in Colombia is consumed internally, and a small portion is exported. Pic: Cacao for Peace

Sustainability

Focus on Cordillera Chocolates and Colombia’s Cacao for Peace initiative

By Anthony Myers

Colombia’s Cordillera Chocolates is a world pioneer in cocoa development. Established almost 60 years ago it has been training cocoa growers in various areas of agricultural practices, sustainability issues, disease control and productivity – and the...

This years Chocovision becomes part of the ECA's Cocoa Forum. Pic: Chocovision

Regulation

ECA announces programme for its Rome Cocoa Forum

By Anthony Myers

The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has released details of the programme and speakers for its European Cocoa Forum, which takes place from 13 to 15 September 2022 in Rome.

The EU is set introduce legislation on deforestation and corporate sustainability due diligence. Pic: EU

sustainability

EU and West African cocoa sector endorse new Alliance on Sustainable Cocoa

By Anthony Myers

At the end of the recent ‘Cocoa Talks’, between EU, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and the cocoa sector, parties jointly endorsed an ‘Alliance on Sustainable Cocoa’, an ambitious roadmap to improve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa...

Jack Steijn (centre), Director & Co-founder of Equipoise and Chocoa, sits in on one of the hybrid sessions from the conference. Pic: CN

Chocoa 2022

Hybrid Chocoa 2022 stays on message

By Anthony Myers

The Chocoa Conference returned to Amsterdam earlier this month with a live-virtual hybrid get-together of important stakeholders from the cocoa sector.

Pic: CN

Grindings

Slight climb in cocoa prices as chocolate production slows

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa prices rallied in the week ending 24 June, after the Cote d’Ivoire government reported that cocoa farmers sent a cumulative 2.24 MMT of cocoa to its ports from 1 October 1 to 19 June, down -1.8% y/y.