Premium

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.

Lindt's continued brand building will be key in 2024. Pic:  Lindt & Sprüngli

Market watch

Lindt & Sprüngli hit with child labor allegations in cocoa supply chain

By Anthony Myers

Swiss premium chocolate company Lindt & Sprüngli is among the leading players in the premium chocolate space with a presence in over 120 countries worldwide and a portfolio of chocolate brands including Russell Stover, Ghirardelli, Caffarel, Lindor,...

The class of '23 - ATENEA's first graduates celebrate completing module 1. Pic: Chocolate Cordillera

WCF PM 2024

Chocolate Cordillera achieves early wins for its female cocoa farmers

By Anthony Myers

At the end of 2023, Colombian sustainable brand Chocolate Cordillera announced that 106 female cocoa farmers from Urabá Antioquia had completed the first module of its ATENEA sustainability program, giving some the confidence to become fully independent...

Chocolate Cordillera became the first private company in Colombia to register two new cacao varieties (CNCH12 and CNCH13). Pic: CN

Special report

How Cacao Fino de Aroma put Colombia back on the map

By Anthony Myers

It was almost 20 years ago that Colombian cocoa was officially recognized by the ICCO (International Cocoa Organization) as Cacao Fino de Aroma (fine aroma beans). Almost 95% of Colombia’s total cocoa production is classed as Cacao Fino de Aroma by the...

Established n Rye, East Sussex, in 2013, Knoops now has 15 stores in locations across the UK. Pic: Knoops

Financial results

Knoops strikes chocolate gold with Wonka movie tie-in

By Anthony Myers

Knoops, the UK retailer of artisan chocolate drinks, is celebrating a merry Christmas after announcing solid financial growth and ambitious expansion plans for 2024 – partly the result of becoming the brand partner of choice for Wonka, the hit film prequel...

Pic: Hotel Chocolat

Sustainability

Hotel Chocolat launches new bar with 100% sales going to cocoa growers

By Anthony Myers

Luxury UK chocolatier and cacao grower Hotel Chocolat has launched two new chocolate bars, pledging 100% of the bar sales to fund a ‘better way for cacao farming’, as part of the brand’s drive for positive change for nature and farming families.

The Swiss pavilion at last year's ISM Middle East. Pic: Switzerland Global Enterprise

ISM Middle East 2023

ISM Middle East sells out in Dubai and announces expansion plans for 2024

By Anthony Myers

As ISM Middle East prepares to open the MENA region's premier trade fair for confectionery and snacks at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 7 to 9 November, organisers Koelnmesse has announced it will be moving its usual November date to September...

York Cocoa House combines a small manufacturing facility with a retail cafe in the heart of the city. Pic York Cocoa House

Podcast

How York Cocoa House is keeping the city’s chocolate industry alive

By Anthony Myers

A recent article in National Geographic described York as ‘England’s chocolate capital’. The city was home to two major confectionery companies, Terry’s founded in 1767 and Rowntree’s in 1862, the inventor of KitKat, which is still produced today at the...

'It's an exciting time in the confectionery space'. Pic: Getty Images

Special Edition: Natural & Clean label confectionery

What it means to eat ‘clean’

By Markus Gaertner

In the realm of the food and beverage industry, few terms carry as much weight and complexity as the term 'clean.

Belcolade’s new green factory at Erembodegem, Belgium. Pic: Belcolade

EXCLUSIVE

Belcolade opens first carbon-neutral chocolate factory in Belgium

By Anthony Myers

Belcolade, the Puratos-owned Belgian Chocolate brand, has opened a new carbon-neutral chocolate factory, running on 100% renewable electricity, sourcing 90% of its water from collected rainwater, and using five times less energy in heat production.

Alejandra Sarasty, Chocolate Cordillera's Chief Global B2B Officer, embraces one of the women cocoa farmers from the ATENEA programme. Pic: CN

Webinar

The importance of women in the cocoa value chain

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa production is decisively linked with women, and sustainable value chains are, too. However, how will their roles differ with the upcoming EU legislation on deforestation, and in a broader issue, will it threaten cocoa and chocolate exporters?

The assessment carried out in September 2023 shows no pesticide cases in PRONATEC's organic cocoa butter, mass and powders. Pic: PRONATEC

Production

PRONATEC reports a clean bill of health for its organic cocoa beans

By Anthony Myers

The family-owned company has been processing cocoa beans into cocoa mass, butter, and powder at its own exclusively organic plant in Winterthur, Switzerland, since June 2022 and says an assessment carried out this month shows there have been no pesticide...

The guide will help cacao producers communicate the quality of their cacao. Image Source: Ilka & Franz/Getty Images

Cacao guide aims to help producers communicate the quality of their cacao

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

For a long time, there has been no commonly agreed way of assessing and communicating the quality of cacao, the seed from which stems cocoa and chocolate. Now, however, a new initiative has been unveiled that will aim to do just that, with contributions...

Love Cocoa's new-look designs for its premium chocolate. Pic: Love Cocoa

Packaging

Love Cocoa unveils ‘Modern Chocolatier’ rebrand

By Anthony Myers

The rebranding includes a stylish new logo and strapline - ‘The Modern Chocolatier’ - and the business has also embraced a brighter, bolder colour palette across the range while maintaining its signature gold foiling detail.

Craft chocolate makers are 'highly internally ethically motivated to be transparent' - research suggests. Pic: GettyImages

Sustainability

Call for more sustainability regulation to help craft chocolate companies

By Anthony Myers

Transparency is a defining feature of the craft chocolate industry. However, with the need for benchmarks or regulations for this budding industry, entrepreneurs and stakeholders interpret and apply transparency differently, new research published in...

Ghana Gold chocolate recognised for its taste by judges. Pic: MIA

Premium

Ghana Gold chocolate bags two Great Taste Awards

By Anthony Myers

Sustainable chocolate brand MIA, short for made in Africa, says its new Ghana Gold bars have been recognised with two Great Taste Awards, one of the world's largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation schemes.

Pic: Lindt

NPD

Lindt debuts new Choco Wafer in its UK outlets

By Anthony Myers

Premium chocolate brand, Lindt has introduced a new Choco Wafer into its UK outlets that after it was recently awarded a ‘superstar’ rating from market researcher, Nielsen Bases.

Pic:  Lindt & Spruengli

Financial results

Lindt warns of further price hikes after posting rise in profits

By Anthony Myers

Luxury Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli has posted stronger-than-expected operating profits in the first half of 2023 and raised its full-year outlook, after hiking up prices for its chocolate easter bunnies and pralines.

Love Cocoa & HiP Chocolate Team celebrate the B Corp Achievement. Pic: Love Cocoa

Sustainabilty

Love Cocoa & H!P Chocolate secure B Corp Certification

By Anthony Myers

London-based sustainable chocolate brand Love Cocoa’s mission to drive positive change within the chocolate industry has received an added boost after recognition as a certified B Corporation, achieving an overall B Impact Score of 88.3.