The German family-owned company Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG, makers of Ritter Sport, is at loggerheads with the country’s regulators over a new chocolate bar that can’t be labelled chocolate because it contains no sugar.
The German confectionery industry has reported a marked drop in exports to the UK since the beginning of the year as companies, on both sides, struggle with export documents, longer delivery times and the need to re-think supply chains due to the impact...
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is looking for a new president to replace Richard Scobey, who will leave on 1 May to become the new Executive Director of environmental organisation TRAFFIC.
The Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA) has announced it has elected Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate’s Commercial Director for Asia-Pacific, Alvin Lee, as the new chairman of the Association for the next two years, with immediate effect.
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), in partnership with the French institution Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), has announced its second edition of the International Symposium on Cocoa Research (ISCR) will take...
Tony’s Chocolonely has alleged that some of the industry’s big chocolate makers have put pressure on UK supermarkets to remove the Dutch company’s ‘Sweet Solution’ bars because “they didn’t want to be associated with the claims of illegal labour in the...
Olam International Limited, one of the world’s leading food, cocoa and agri-businesses, has extended the application deadline for its bi-annual innovation prize to March 15, 2021, citing the challenges of COVID-19.
The Accessible Soils And Sustainable Environments (ASASE) will be working towards tackling deforestation and working to rehabilitate ageing cocoa farms and restore the country’s natural forests.
By Robert Guite and Abby Meyer, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
If your company sells any vanilla-flavored food or beverage product, then you are probably aware of the innumerable class action cases that have been filed over the last 18 months attacking these products – 67 cases by our count. Here, we trace the history...
Dutch ethical brand Tony’s Chocolonely is inviting international chocolate makers to join its transparent supply chain platform in order to create a more sustainable cocoa industry.
The iconic cookies sold to raise funds for the celebrated Girl Scouts of the United States of America purportedly contain palm oil that is linked to child labour practices, according to a new report.
There are new rules for businesses and citizens from 1 January 2021 – and companies in the food sector have been urged to act now to be ready if new trading rules between the UK and EU come into force at the beginning of 2021.
Barry Callebaut has announced that Francisco Migoya is to become its USA Cacao Barry Ambassador, as the lead chef for cocoa farming sustainability in support of the Cocoa Horizons Foundation.
After two decades of failed interventions across the cocoa sector, cocoa farming communities are still battling the effects of poverty, child labour and deforestation, the new report highlights.
Jutta Urpilainen (European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships) delivered a keynote address to the World Cocoa Foundation’s Partnership Meeting mapping out the EC's new multi-stakeholder dialogue to improve sustainability in the cocoa...
‘Fighting Child Labor in Cocoa: Building Partnerships & Scaling Up Action’ was an important session of the first day of the WCF’s 2020 Partnership Meeting, where the ICI’s Nick Weatherill and other panel members attempted to put into context the vexing...
This year’s World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting kicked off online earlier today with a keynote opening address from its President, Richard Scobey.
The Fairtrade Foundation has cautiously welcomed the UK government’s new Environment Bill, which includes measures prohibiting UK firms from selling products linked to illegal deforestation overseas.
The UK government has launched new consultation on proposals to ban online adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt to ‘tackle the obesity crisis and get the nation fit and healthy’.
The public has been warned about a new phishing scam offering a festive chocolate hamper from Cadbury in exchange for their bank details and home address.
Mars Wrigley has strengthened its commitment to protecting children in at-risk regions of the cocoa sector with the release of its 2020 Cocoa for Generations report detailing progress on its journey toward creating a modern, inclusive and sustainable...
DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences was among the 30+ case studies published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its push to advance the responsible production of palm oil.
Halloween candy sales have increased 8.6% in the United States and seasonal chocolates have seen 12.2% gains since October 4, according to new IRI data from the National Confectioners Association.
The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, a multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together Swiss-based chocolate manufacturers, cocoa traders and importers, food retailers, the public sector, non-governmental organizations and research institutes, has...
The prevalence of illegal child labour on cocoa farms in West Africa is effectively the same now as it was five years ago, says Paul Schoenmakers, Head of Impact at Tony’s Chocolonely.
President Richard Scobey recognises research from latest NORC report on child labour in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa regions, but says industry is scaling up its efforts to eradicate farmer poverty.
Following on from the Group’s groundbreaking ceremony in Ecuador for a new state-of-the-art cocoa facility, Barry Callebaut is ramping up its presence in the world’s third largest cocoa-growing country with a wider introduction of its Cocoa Horizons programme....
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...
Ten employees at the Haribo factory in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, are self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, the confectionery company has confirmed.
The predictive analytics provider told BakeryandSnacks the UK savoury snacks industry stands to lose £381.1m, while the bakery sector is at risk of losing £143.4m should the government’s injunction on advertising products labelled as high in fat, sugar...
A damning report from Public Health England (PHE) has found that food industry has cut out only 3% of sugar from supermarket, cafe and restaurant products over the past three years.
Hershey’s free bags offer a fun and safe alternative to trick-or-treating, as NCA health consultant Dr Stephen Ostroff issues reminder on protocols for this year’s event.
Cargill, one of the world’s largest chocolate producers, has launched a digital portal that provides consumers with increased knowledge and shareability into the origin of the products they source from the company’s direct supply chain.
Chocolate fans voice concerns over Nestlé’s move away from buying Fairtrade cocoa and sugar – but multi-national food giant says petition contains a number of inaccuracies.
Extensive research carried out by the Barry Callebaut group into consumer responses around the coronavirus pandemic has revealed new implications and opportunities for the confectionery market. In an exclusive video interview, Bas Smit, Global Vice President...
Perfetti Van Melle is taking centre stage at the upcoming Festival of Licensing to reveal the secret behind Chupa Chups’ licensing success and the importance of design as a tool for reinforcing brand relevance and uniqueness.
The Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) has called for a uniform European approach to supply chain standards saying that in some countries where raw materials are imported from, human rights are still not being observed, even...
The Sustainable Cocoa Initiative is a new multi-stakeholder dialogue that brings together representatives of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana – the two main cocoa producing countries accounting for 70% of global cocoa production – as well as representatives...
Olam Cocoa, a leading supplier of cocoa beans and ingredients to the industry, has announced it has achieved 100% traceability of directly sourced cocoa across its global supply chain.
In April, Mars committed US$20m in cash and in-kind donations to support the people, pets, and communities most affected by COVID-19, including communities in cocoa-growing.
MIA chocolate brand, short for Made In Africa, has launched the Girls’ Education Fund under its 1 for Change impact programme to support vulnerable African students in achieving their potential.
Dutch ethical chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely has released its first brand video, narrated by British actor Idris Elba, to raise awareness of what it calls its 'fight against systematic inequality and exploitation in the chocolate industry'.
Mars Wrigley has announced it is building on its cocoa supply chain transparency by releasing an interactive map that discloses data on where it sources its cocoa.
Barry Callebaut Group, one of the world’s largest cocoa manufactures, has released a collection of farmer data in its supply chain by going public with a map of all its cocoa suppliers in West Africa.
The Fairtrade Foundation has announced it has secured major UK government funding and backing from Mondelēz International to support cocoa producers in West Africa hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) has criticised the German government and EU over its handling of the trade dispute between the EU and the United States.
The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) has stepped up its efforts to fight for children’s rights across the cocoa supply chain with a new 2021-2026 strategy that it hopes will get the backing from the whole industry.