ICYMI: Here’s our top 10 most popular confectionery stories of 2020

 2020 started in fantastic style with ISM/ProSweets in Cologne and the always-interesting Chocoa Conference in Amsterdam.

Then came the coronavirus, just as the NCA was winding up its ‘State of the Industry’ gathering in Florida in March, wiping out the rest of the events and conferences planned for the rest of the year.

One highlight was the WCF’s Partnership Meeting, scheduled to be held in Bogota in November, and switched to a virtual event. The ambition was massive, held over two-days with an impressive line-up of speakers, the event was a technical triumph and a resounding editorial success as it kept the focus on some of the most important issues in the cocoa sector.

Here's a quick round-up of some of the most interesting, important and popular stories that ConfectioneryNews covered over the past 12 months, in no particular order.

NORC final report released - finds over 1m cases of child labour in West Africa's cocoa sector​​

The long-awaited US government-funded report from National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC) that assesses progress in reducing child labour in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana’s cocoa regions shows figures are lower than previously thought (1.56 million compared to estimates of 2.1 million in 2013/14) but it is still a sobering read for the chocolate industry, despite some signs of progress in trying to eradicate the issue.

Shock decision by Nestlé UK&I to stop using Fairtrade cocoa means farmers will lose Premium​​

The Fairtrade Foundation has issued a statement in response to Nestlé’s surprise announcement that it is planning to stop using Fairtrade cocoa and sugar in its chocolate bars, including the top-selling KitKats, and use Rainforest Alliance certification instead.

WCF’s top priority is ‘to protect the lives and livelihoods of cocoa farmers’​​

This year’s World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting kicked off online earlier today with a keynote opening address from its President, Richard Scobey.

Tony’s Chocolonely takes the party online for its eighth Annual Fair Report​​

A star-studded list of ‘serious friends’, including rapper Pharrell Williams and actor Idris Elba, joined the Dutch ethical chocolate brand at a virtual fairground meeting full of razzmatazz and meaning, watched by choco fans around the globe.

'Pacha de Cacao - an uplifting story about the powerful cacao fruit'​​

It has been five months since the article ‘Freshly pressed - Why Freebird Cacao Juice could be a game-changer’ was published by ConfectioneryNews, and a lot has happened since then as the company announces a new name and new identity.

John Downs delivers a surprise punch at the NCA’s annual State of the Industry Conference​​

President and CEO plays the straight man this time as he sets out the organization’s agenda for the next five years and promises to act on cocoa sustainability, look at the issues around the CBD trend and maintain the confectionery industry’s image as a ‘cultural connector’.

ISM 2020 weathers coronavirus scare to make its 50th edition a sweet affair​​

One of the world’s largest sweets and snacks fair sees record number of exhibitors and sets consumer trends for the year, while Brazil increases its presence on international stage.

'Cocoa pays for everything'​​

In the third of her occasional 'I am a cocoa farmer series', cocoa scholar Kristy Leissle talks to Daniel Aboagye, who is not only a farmer but a recorder, or purchasing clerk, for the Kuapa Kokoo licensed cocoa buying company (LBC), so he has a unique insight into the cocoa trade in Ghana. As a father of two he tells her of the struggles of being a farmer to earn a decent wage and how climate change and gold mining is threatening his existence and why the Fairtrade Premium makes a difference.

EU due diligence laws for cocoa sector could be in force by 2022​​

The European Union (EU) is the world’s largest importer of cocoa and cocoa products, and the EU Commission is considering European-wide action to reduce the impact on several sustainability issues, primarily child labor and deforestation.

Barry Callebaut opens world's first 3D printing studio to craft ‘unseen chocolate’ experiences – VIDEO​​

The Belgian chocolate supplier, known for its innovations, is now offering the world’s first personalized 3D printed chocolate at scale through its global decoration brand Mona Lisa.