Barry Callebaut’s cocoa-free chocolate move: A Summary
- Barry Callebaut partners with Planet A Foods to create ChoViva
- ChoViva is a cocoa-free chocolate made from sunflower seeds
- Rising cocoa prices and climate risks drive search for alternatives
- Company reassures cocoa remains central but explores new options
- Partnership signals shift toward sustainable chocolate innovation globally
Barry Callebaut, the world’s biggest manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa, is partnering with Planet A Foods to create chocolate without cocoa.
The Swiss-Belgian chocolate and cocoa producer, and the German food-tech innovator, announced they’re making the move to meet the “growing customer demand for sustainable, chocolate solutions without cocoa”.
The announcement comes in the same week as Barry Callebaut reported a sharp drop in sales following price hikes made to mitigate rising cocoa costs.
It also comes just months after it announced plans to investigate cell-cultivated cocoa, in collaboration with professors at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
The chocolate giant was quick to reassure customers that “traditional cocoa” remains at the heart of the business and will continue to play a central role in its future.
But with climate change continuing to threaten cocoa crops and the market remaining volatile, it’s hard to know how long that pledge will last. And its moves to de-risk the much sought-after commodity, would imply that insiders are more worried about it’s future than they’re letting on.
But what about this potential alternative. What is it and what opportunities could it create for the industry?
Barry Callebaut’s cocoa alternative
Named ChoViva and created by Munich start-up Planet A Foods, this cocoa alternative is created using locally-available crops, such as sunflower seeds, and is said to deliver a “chocolate-like experience without compromising on quality or taste”.
“This innovative alternative offers consumers the indulgence they love while supporting more mindful and sustainable choices,” says Dr Sara Marquart, CTO and co-founder of Planet A Foods.
The partnership also provides Planet A Foods with a strong foundation for growth worldwide, while helping to secure Barry Callebaut’s future.
“Through this partnership with Planet A Foods, Barry Callebaut is embracing technology to open further avenues for growth while enhancing our resiliency to today’s cocoa-market volatility,” says Christian Hansen, head of global strategy at Barry Callebaut.
A new era for chocolate
As Barry Callebaut explores alternatives like ChoViva, the chocolate industry may be on the cusp of a major transformation.
While traditional cocoa remains central to its identity, the company’s investment in innovative, sustainable solutions signals a readiness to adapt to shifting market dynamics and environmental pressures.
Whether cocoa-free chocolate becomes a mainstream choice or remains a niche innovation, one thing is clear, the future of chocolate is changing.
