The Chocoa Conference returned to Amsterdam earlier this month with a live-virtual hybrid get-together of important stakeholders from the cocoa sector.
A multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together more than 70 members from cocoa suppliers, chocolate manufacturers, traders, retailers, NGOs, research institutions as well as the Swiss Government, the Platform’s annual meeting was an opportunity to discuss...
Cocoa prices rallied in the week ending 24 June, after the Cote d’Ivoire government reported that cocoa farmers sent a cumulative 2.24 MMT of cocoa to its ports from 1 October 1 to 19 June, down -1.8% y/y.
German chocolate specialist Ritter Sport has partnered with Dufry and Zürich Airport for a month-long ‘Colourful World of Chocolate’ activation centred on its lovable sloth mascot Don Choco.
Connecticut-based healthy snack food brand GoodSam Foods has announced a new venture with Colombian chocolate manufacturer Luker Chocolate to boost educational programmes in cocoa communities.
DouxMatok, the Israeli firm behind patented technology that makes sucrose taste sweeter, has teamed up with Batory Foods to distribute its Incredo enhanced sugar in North America.
A new innovation-driven partnership launched by Fairtrade International, Fairtrade Africa, and digital solutions provider Farmforce is set to extend the deployment of a smart data management system to more than two dozen cocoa cooperatives in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Hershey Company’s evolution from sustainability to integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) priorities into its business strategy and operations continues with the sharing of its 2021 ESG Report.
Research reveals Fairtrade Standards, Fairtrade pricing, and producer support programmes positively impact certified farmers and their communities when compared to non-Fairtrade certified farmers, particularly in times of difficulty and distress.
Chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut has signed a long-term agreement with Colombian food ingredient supplier Levapan to expand its distribution to key parts of Latin America.
Nestlé said it will continue to work with all stakeholders to ‘help protect and restore forests, promote sustainable cocoa production and thriving communities, and create a forest positive future for all’.
The country’s first 100% organic cocoa-processing plant has been established in Beringen near Schaffhausen to produce organic and Fairtrade certified semi-finished cocoa products.
Dialogue between The Cocoa Coalition (CC) and the European Commission and EU member states is continuing with news that the CC welcomes latest proposals by the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana for an Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.
Cargill has unveiled its new 6,200-square-metre House of Chocolate at its Mouscron site in Belgium, which will include a state-of-the-art chocolate experience centre, a unique pilot plant with sensory expertise, and creative workspace for the company’s...
Early-bird rates for the European Cocoa Association Forum in September are available until 31 May. The two-day conference will feature high-level speakers from the EU institutions, cocoa producer countries and various other key players of the sector.
Nigeria’s cocoa sector has renewed its efforts to join the Living Income Differential (LID) set up by neighbouring Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to protect their farmers by increasing income.
The Oreo and Cadbury owner has published its 2021 Snacking Made Right Report, which highlights progress against its short- and long-term ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals.
Peru is the world's ninth largest cocoa producer (roughly 71,175 tons a year) and the world’s largest organic cocoa producer, and it is now on a mission to develop a deforestation-free supply chain by 2025, making it ready for new European market...
Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa has secured two major investments to scale up its impact in the cocoa sector by successfully completing its Series A round raising a total of $4.7 million in equity – and a $3.5 million investment from climate adaptation and...
UK start-up WNWN Food Labs is launching what it claims to be the ‘world’s first’ cacao-free chocolate. Made from two ‘hero ingredients’ – barley and carob – we ask co-founders Arhum Pak and Dr Johnny Drain what makes their product better than the real...
The Rainforest Alliance, CDP, Clarmondial, Conservation International, and USAID announce a transformational public-private ‘Business Case’ partnership to reduce cocoa and other commodity-driven deforestation, and contribute to global climate and biodiversity...
Olam food ingredients (ofi) is one of the world’s largest cocoa bean suppliers with a leading presence in 10 key producing countries across Africa, Asia and South America. It has published its 2021 Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) Report to share...
The Fairtrade Foundation has released a new report revealing key insights into factors it says can “either enable or jeopardise the ability of cocoa co-operatives to create and fairly distribute positive benefits to their farmer members.”
From thaumatin to brazzein, we’ve been told for years that ultra-sweet proteins found in tiny quantities in some fruits could be the next big thing in natural sweeteners, if we can just find a way to produce them more cost effectively from microbial hosts....
Divine Chocolate, the only Fairtrade and B Corp certified chocolate company to be co-owned by cocoa farmers, has said it has strengthened farmer empowerment initiatives and has joined multi-stakeholder Agroforestry project with HALBA in Switzerland.
The World Cocoa Conference has been postponed for the third time after organisers International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) cited uncertainties of holding a global gathering in Bali with the potential of more travel restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19...
Mars Incorporated has announced two ‘groundbreaking’ programmes in a new effort by a major chocolate company to improve the livelihoods of smallholder cocoa farmers.
Two influential Washington-based organisations from the cocoa and confectionery industry have called for more stringent regulations in the cocoa supply chain regarding forest conservation.
Fairtrade International has announced Sandra Uwera will become its new Global CEO following the departure of Dr Nyagoy Nyong’o, who served as Interim Global CEO until last month.
Call for UK government to publish its long-awaited Sugar Reduction Progress Report and announce new, tougher, comprehensive, regulatory measures to incentivise the industry to reduce sugar.
Colombian cocoa supplier Luker Chocolate has announced it has joined the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent), a global business network of more than 200 major companies around the world committed to supporting refugees, including by hiring and training...
Blommer Chocolate, the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America, has announced Carolin Fesenberg will become its new Director of Cocoa Sustainability.
A California federal judge has refused to grant a motion to dismiss a proposed class action accusing Nestlé USA of allegedly deceptively marketing its chocolate products as sustainably sourced despite obtaining cocoa from farms reliant on child slave...
The company has published its ‘Chocolate Foodprint’ for 2021-22, which leads the way for artisan brands in transparency and regeneration in the cocoa sector. We talk to Philipp Kauffmann, the company’s founder.
The manufacturing side of the German confectionery industry is facing its worse crisis in 70 years and could grind to a halt as it struggles with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and an impending gas shortage caused by the Russian invasion of...
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has announced the opening of registrations for its European Cocoa Forum, which takes place from 13 to 15 September 2022 in Rome.
ConfectioneryNews talked to Jose Puyana, ProColombia's Regional Director for Europe, ahead of a Trade Mission to the UK (31 March to 3 April) to attend the London Coffee Festival, where cocoa producers will be also in attendance.
With just 19% of countries in the WHO European Region having introduced SSB taxes, a new study has sought to identify what works and what doesn’t – to encourage effective implementation.
The Swiss-Ghanaian start-up, best known for its upcycling of cocoa side streams, has partnered with seedtrace and MTN Group to ‘disrupt transparency standards’ in cocoa.
MIA, short for Made in Africa, is branching out from its base in Madagascar to work with cocoa farmers in West Africa. Co-founder Brett Beach tells ConfectioneryNews the reasons behind the move – and also provides an update on the situation on the island...
Ethical British chocolate company Love Cocoa has extended its Easter offering with a new Luxury Giant Milk Chocolate Egg and a Luxury Half & Half Egg, both containing the brand’s signature Salted Caramel Truffles.
The Cocoa Coalition has broadly welcomed the European Commission's proposed Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, saying 'we regard it as a genuinely ground-breaking legislative proposal'.
In its Annual Report for 2021, Nestlé said it has the ability to deliver and scale meaningful innovations that meet changing consumer tastes, respond to the growing interest worldwide in nutritional health solutions and contribute to sustainability.
