News

Olam Group Limited has guaranteed the sustainability loan to its ofi division. Pic: Olam Group

Finance

ofi secures $1,750m sustainability-linked loan

By Anthony Myers

The Olam Group Limited has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, olam food ingredients (ofi), which includes its cocoa division, has secured a multi-tranche sustainability-linked facility aggregating $1,750 million.

Koa cocoa farmers celebrate the opening of a new facility to make the most of the cocoa pod. Pic: Koa Photography

Sustainabilty

Koa opens Africa's largest cocoa fruit factory in Ghana

By Anthony Myers

The Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa, whose aim is to transform the cocoa industry by upcycling parts of the cocoa fruit that are usually overlooked, has inaugurated Africa's largest cocoa fruit factory.

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.

Cocoa prices hit record highs on the international markets this week. Pic: CN

Commodities

El Niño and consumer demand from China pushes up cocoa prices

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa traded on ICE Futures in New York hit a 12-year high of $3,640.50 per tonne on Wednesday (30 August), as analysts reacted to a consumer surge in chocolate, as well as the adverse impacts of the El Niño weather phenomenon on West Africa’s cocoa crop.

Jokolade founder Joko Winterscheidt. Pic: Jokolade

M&As

Katjes acquires sustainable chocolate brand Jokolade

By Anthony Myers

German confectionery brand Katjes has announced it has acquired a 50% stake in Schoko Winterscheidt GmbH, owners of Jokolade, with the aim of positioning itself more prominently in the chocolate category.

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...

Today's shopper has an entire world of information at their fingertips to find out the history and benefits of the ingredients used within a product in an instant. Pic: GettyImages

The rise of the digital snacker

By Gill Hyslop

Technological advancements have opened seemingly infinite possibilities for innovation within the snack and bakery industry. We’re in a new era of food manufacturing with the ability to create a more connected experience for consumers and more efficient...

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.

Beyond the initial visual impact, what factors are influencing consumer attitudes to packaging? What attributes do people look for in packaging? And does this impact purchase intent? GettyImages/Tom Werner

GUEST ARTICLE

The top 5 trends driving innovation in packaging science

By Katy Askew, managing director, IFIS Publishing

Packaging is the shop window for your brand, the primary interface through which food and beverage manufacturers interact with consumers. Packaging innovation, therefore, cannot be taken lightly. How are R&D teams leveraging packaging science to develop...

Olam Group continues to invest in 'future growth engines'. Pic: Olam Group

Financial results

Olam Group reports profits of $136 million for first half of 2023

By Anthony Myers

The Singapore-based agri business (which includes ofi - its cocoa and ingredients division) has reported Operational PATMI (profit after tax and minority interest) of S$184.0 million ($136 million) so far this year.

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.

Chrissy Teigen is married to singer John Legend, a mother of four, an award winning cookbook author and founder of a lifestyle and bakery brand. Pic: GettyImages

Supermodel’s baking mix company gets new lead

By Gill Hyslop

Cravings - the baking mix and lifestyle brand born from Chrissy Teigen’s award-winning cookbooks - has tapped CPG veteran, foodie and mom Danyel O’Connor to serve as CEO, tasked to grow its focus areas of crave-worthy content, community and commerce.

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