Cocoa & Sugar

94% of UK consumers  buy Easter eggs, yet 31% would avoid an ethical brand because of mistaken cost assumption, Fairtrade claims. Pic: Fairtrade

Seasonal

Fairtrade urges UK to buy more sustainable Easter eggs

By Anthony Myers

This Easter, shoppers can do more than choose between milk, dark, or white chocolate eggs; they have the power to make a significant difference to the cocoa farmers, says Fairtrade UK.

Cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire plant new seedlings to promote agroforestry. Pic: Nestlé

sustainability

Nestlé onboards suppliers to help cocoa farmers with climate change

By Anthony Myers

Nestlé has announced it is launching two new projects to help address the impact of climate change on cocoa and reduce and remove carbon emissions from its supply chains—as part of its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Cocoa beans are in short supply. Pic: CN

Commodities

Future of cocoa under threat as prices skyrocket due to bean shortages

By Anthony Myers

UPDATE: TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2024: Cocoa prices continued to rise this week. Earlier today the price of cocoa beans smashed through the $10,000 a ton for the first time in the futures market after posting gains all week - with chocolate makers passing on...

John Downs (right) mingles with attendees at this year's SOTIC in Miami. Pic: NCA

SOTIC 2024

Downs: US confectionery is robust enough to survive and thrive

By Anthony Myers

Confectionery’s resilience in the face of global inflationary pressures and the rising costs of raw materials has lifted John Downs, the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) president and CEO, who said he is confident the category is in excellent...

The European Union's deforestation regulation is set to come into force on 31 December 2024. Pic: WCF

EUDR

European Union to delay ‘high risk’ element of deforestation bill

By Anthony Myers

The European Union (EU) has signalled its intent to delay the most controversial parts of its anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) after protests by governments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America described the low, standard, or high-risk benchmarking...

Source: Incredo

Incredo Sugar G2 provides versatility across categories

By Deniz Ataman

Foodtech company Incredo expands its sugar reduction solutions with the launch of Incredo Sugar G2, a concentrated version of its clean label, protein-sucrose blend Incredo Sugar made from cane and/or beet sugar and a dairy- or plant-based protein to...

The detrimental effect of unfavourable weather conditions is hitting global cocoa supplies. Pic: GettyImages

Commodities

ICCO predicts 11% drop in global cocoa output, after El Niño effect

By Anthony Myers

The El Niño weather phenomenon, which hit the west coast of Africa last year, carrying unseasonal heavy rains followed by dry heat, is the main factor in an 11% drop in the season’s main cocoa harvest, according to the latest figures from the International...

Barry Callebaut Group CEO Peter Feld. Pic: Barry Callebaut

Jobs

Barry Callebaut to axe 18% of global workforce

By Anthony Myers

Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s largest chocolate and cocoa supplier, has announced it is cutting approximately 2,500 manufacturing and administration jobs across its global operations.

Predictions are for a global deficit of cocoa beans around 500,000 metric tons for the the current 2023-24 season. Pic: CN

Markets

ICCO urges major rethink as cocoa futures hit another record high

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa futures in London and New York rose to fresh record highs on trading platform ICE on Monday this week as increasing concern about supply shortages in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, the world's top two producers, left buyers scrambling for beans from...

Scientists have analysed consumer purchasing behaviours of goods with fair trade and organic labels on their packaging. GettyImages/TommL

Fair trade label retains purchasing power despite recession, study shows

By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Using a combination of social psychology and economic models, a new UK study shows fair trade product sales increased in popularity during an economic downturn while organic product sales dropped, indicating a divide between the two labels’ favourability...

Could low-sugar chocolate actually taste better? GettyImages/Chris Ryan

Could low-sugar chocolate actually taste better?

By Donna Eastlake

Less is apparently more when it comes to the amount of sugar used in the creation of the perfect chocolate bar. So will manufacturers reduce the amount of sugar they use in the making of this sweet treat and will consumers welcome the change?

As the clock ticks on the application of the EUDR, there were still plenty of unanswered questions in Amsterdam surrounding its guidelines. Pic: WCF

WCF Partnership Meeting 2024

How ready is the EU Commission to implement its deforestation regulation?

By Anthony Myers

Apart from farmer income/poverty, the most discussed topic on day one of the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam was the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that will be implemented at the end of this year.

Mawuli Coffie. Pic: WCF

WCF Partnership Meeting 2024

World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) appoints new programme director for Ghana

By Anthony Myers

Ahead of The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam this week, the organisation has announced that Mawuli Coffie will be its country director for the WCF Ghana Office as part of a new senior leadership team spearheading an ambitious...

The new app for cocoa farmers developed by Plant-for-the-Planet. Pic: Plant-for-the-Planet

EUDR

Free app for smallholder cocoa farmers to check on EUDR compliance

By Anthony Myers

Plant-for-the-Planet has launched a free app that smallholder farmers can use to check their own farms and share their data with trading partners – and know within minutes whether they can continue importing into the EU under its new deforestation regulations.

Roel van Poppel. Pic: ofi

Appointments

ofi appoints new chief sustainability officer

By Anthony Myers

Leading commodities supplier ofi has announced Roel van Poppel as its chief sustainability officer (CSO), taking responsibility for scaling the group’s ability to drive positive impact across its five leading product platforms - cocoa, coffee, dairy,...

Tate & Lyle hits the sweet spot

Tate & Lyle hits the sweet spot

By Danielle Masterson

Ingredient solutions firm Tate & Lyle continues to build its sweetener portfolio as consumers shift from full-sugar to reduced-sugar offerings.

Amsterdam Cocoa Week takes place in the city's historic stock exchange, Beurs van Berlage from 5-11 February. Pic: Equipoise

Sustainability

Cocoa sector set for ‘epic’ week in Amsterdam

By Anthony Myers

Amsterdam Cocoa Week promises an ‘epic collaboration’ when it opens on Monday 5 February at the Beurs van Berlage, the city’s former stock exchange building, where joining forces under one roof will be high-level sustainability conferences Chocoa, the...

Barry Callebaut said it has taken 'significant' refinancing measures to address rising cocoa prices. Pic: Barry Callebaut

Financial Results

Shift towards private-label chocolate steadies Barry Callebaut's sales

By Anthony Myers

According to analysts, Barry Callebaut has posted a slight rise in sales volumes in three months to the end of November ahead of a challenging and overall declining chocolate confectionery market due to inflation that is squeezing household budgets.

Stevia seedlings. Pic: Howtian Group

BALANCING HEALTH AND INDULGENCE IN CONFECTIONERY

Colombia’s sugar reduction tax targets confectionery

By Anthony Myers

The global landscape of food consumption is undergoing a significant shift with the introduction of sugar taxes in over 120 countries. These initiatives are primarily aimed at guiding consumers towards healthier lifestyle choices by reducing the intake...