After the pound hit a record low against the US dollar at the end of September, the Fairtrade Foundation is warning of the potential impact of the market volatility, both on farmers in low-income countries and the UK shoppers who buy the food they grow.
Independent UK chocolatiers Cocoa Canopy is upping the drinking chocolate category with a new range that crafts unique fine chocolate beads, for a superior, more intense drink.
Nestlé’s ‘innovative income accelerator programme’ to increase cocoa farmer income and achieve full traceability in its cocoa supply chain was the subject of an informative webinar between the Rainforest Alliance and Nestlé on the importance of regenerative...
ofi (olam food ingredients), a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients, says it has substantially advanced towards the climate goals stated in its Cocoa Compass sustainability report – but issued a call for the EU to work with other...
Luxury ice cream maker has announced plans to upscale its female empowerment programme in its cocoa supply chain after the successful graduation of its first intakes.
The European Cocoa Forum, held recently in Rome, Italy, was marked by frank and open discussions on how best to safeguard and direct the future of the hugely important global of the cocoa sector, said Paul Davis, European Cocoa Association (ECA) president.
The ECA’s Cocoa Forum 2022 looked at the supply & demand functionality in the industry regarding the right package of policy actions in a fluctuating market.
With 420 million hectares of forest cover lost in the past 30 years, the debate on deforestation and traceability in the cocoa supply chain took up the last day of the ECA Cocoa Forum 2022, held in Rome.
Cocoa and chocolate companies have announced greater cooperation and a willingness willing to share their cocoa farmer data with Ivorian and Ghanaian authorities to further traceability.
Switzerland is known for its chocolate. And now the first 100% organic cocoa processing plant in the country has completed its test phase and is gearing up production. FoodNavigator learns more about how this investment will meet growing demand for organic...
Three years since its last gathering in Lisbon, the ECA Cocoa Forum wasted no time in getting back down to business in Rome as part of its wider remit to facilitate dialogue on how to move the industry forward in key areas including food safety, sustainability,...
Barry Callebaut has announced it is extending its Cocoa Horizons programme in Nigeria, pledging to pay an additional amount of 26 million Naira ($40,841) in premiums for deliveries of sustainable cocoa beans in the 2021-2022 season.
Puratos, the food ingredients and services supplier for the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors has announced a new partnership with Shiru, a functional ingredient company for the food industry.
In this exclusive op-ed for ConfectioneryNews by Brett Beach, Co-founder of sustainable chocolate brand Made in Africa (MIA), and Dr Kristy Leissle, a member of CN’s editorial board and the author of numerous books and articles on cocoa and industry politics,...
Fazer Confectionery is researching the potential of growing cocoa by adopting cellular agriculture to maintain its core commitment to sourcing raw materials sustainably.
US candy brand HI-CHEW has released two new reduced sugar flavours to its portfolio - Mango and Strawberry - which it says offer brand fans the same great taste and texture they love with 30% less of the sweet stuff.
Consumers are trying to reduce or avoid sugar, and the demand for low or no sugar alternatives is rising in 2022 for the growing health-conscious public, with research suggesting more than 60% of US consumers wish there were healthier chocolate options...
Luker Chocolate, the family-owned, Colombian chocolate manufacturer, has developed a new range of covertures that includes erythritol & stevia, which it says is being driven by an increase in consumer and client demand.
With more US households veering towards sugar-free baking, Swerve, a leading manufacturer and marketer of zero-sugar, keto-friendly, and plant-based sweeteners, has launched the next generation of sugar alternative products.
Colombian B4B chocolate manufacturer Luker Chocolate is hitting the caramel flavour with a new chocolate couverture, crafted at origin, using the company’s signature Cacao Fino de Aroma and incorporating its sustainability practices.
The result of a three-year study by a multi-disciplinary panel of four experts into the sources of lead and cadmium in cocoa and chocolate - and how levels may be reduced in the future - has been published by the National Confectioners Association (NCA)...
Compared to 292,471 tonnes of beans produced and marketed during the 2020-2021 season, Cameroon’s Office national du cacao et du Café (ONCC) said a total of 295,163 tonnes of beans were harvested in the 2021-2022 season.
Allulose, a novel rare sugar, is currently making its way through the Novel Foods process to gain regulatory approval in Europe. Does it have the characteristics that European shoppers are looking for in sweeteners?
Mondelēz International has released its annual Human Rights Due Diligence and Modern Slavery report for 2021, demonstrating, it claims, progress against its 2025 ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, has doubled down on the country’s pledge to increase its cocoa production from the present 340,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes by 2024.
With over 17 years of experience, Romain Cornu has been involved with high-end restaurants and hotels in the Middle East, France, and throughout the United States, and continues today to shape the dessert offering around the world as the Global Corporate...
The two companies, known for their passion for social justice, said they were working together because of their shared commitment to end slavery and child labour in the chocolate industry by using sustainably sourced cocoa beans.
Uncommon Cacao, which describes itself as the ‘first Transparent Trade cacao supply chain company,' has released its 2021 Transparency Report covering key performance indicators over the past 12 months.
Relief for small and medium-sized businesses is urgently needed, said the Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI), after Germany’s federal government sets a gas levy to provide financial support for gas importers.
Finnish confectioner Fazer is working to secure a sustainable future cocoa supply. The company believes cellular agriculture could be part of that vision.
The Government of Belize has launched a new initiative to tackle child labour and reduce its incidence by eliminating the worst forms by 2025 following extended dialogue with national stakeholders, cooperatives, and social justice organizations, including...
A pioneering initiative by Barry Callebaut and Prova to improve the livelihoods of vanilla farmers in Madagascar has been expanded, the parties have announced.
The Olam Group said it remains cautiously optimistic about its prospects for the rest of the year, despite global supply chain issues, and confirmed it still intends to go ahead with the ofi IPO – favourable market conditions permitting.
Cocoa prices closed up on Wednesday (10 August) +35 (+1.48%), and September ICE London cocoa #7 (CAU22) closed up +3 (+0.17%) after support from the sharp sell-off in the dollar, which supported commodity prices in general.
Martin Short’s short tenure at the helm of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) was announced in a brief media statement by the Washington-based organisation.
Cocoa flavanols appear to decrease blood pressure only when elevated say researchers, easing previous concerns that the nutrient can decrease blood pressure in healthy adults.
Magnum ice cream has launched an on-the-ground impact programme developed to socially and economically empower the cocoa farming communities in Cote d'Ivoire.
Oat m!lk chocolate brand, HAPPi, is teaming up with Luker Chocolate to create Kids for Nature, an exciting new project that aims to protect the remarkable wildlife of Colombia by educating the next generation to become guardians of their ecosystem.
Confectionery giant claims to be making progress against its 2025 ESG goals, and confirms progress toward the company’s goals to prevent, identify, and address potential human rights and modern slavery risks in its own operations and supply chains.
Barry Callebaut said the financial impact of the shutdown at its Wieze factory because of a salmonella outbreak is being assessed, but the Group expects it to be notable for the financial results in the fourth quarter of 2021-22.
In the coming cocoa crop season, Barry Callebaut said it aims to scale up a new approach by deploying large-scale labour teams to reach more farmers in its supply chain.
Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, along with the 35 companies in the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI), have reported progress made towards ending deforestation in the two cocoa-growing countries.
The ingredients specialist has extended its partnership with APC Microbiome Ireland, a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre, for a two-year project to delve into how dietary fibres can impact the functioning of the gut microbiome.
The Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA) has confirmed speakers and the programme for its International Cocoa Conference & Dinner, which takes place on 1 & 2 September 2022 at the Raffles City Convention Centre (RCCC) in Singapore.
A new partnership has been launched by Fairtrade International, Fairtrade Africa, and non-profit organization Earthworm Foundation, pledging to work together to monitor deforestation and assess environmental vulnerability.
