Cocoa & Sugar

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer DMCC. Pic: DMCC

Cocoa

Dubai set to become a global hub for cocoa trade

By Anthony Myers

Announced earlier in the year, The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre's (DMCC) Cacao Centre is set to launch in summer with plans to make the Emirati city a global hub for trade in cocoa beans.

Santiago Gowland. Pic: The Rainforest Alliance

Environment

The Rainforest Alliance appoints Santiago Gowland as new CEO

By Anthony Myers

Gowland previously served as Executive Vice President for Latin America and Global Innovation at The Nature Conservancy. Before that, he spearheaded sustainability initiatives in the private sector, including stints at Unilever and Nike.

Mars Wrigley's Responsible Cocoa programme supports the LID. Pic: Mars Wrigley

Cocoa

Mars Wrigley to meet industry cocoa officials to discuss LID payments

By Anthony Myers

Barry Parkin, the company's Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer, is set to meet with members of the cocoa industry and the governments of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire this week to discuss the Living Income Differential (LID) and to underscore...

'Much of the challenge of reducing deforestation in 2021 comes down to accountability'. Pic: Satelligence

Guest article

The road to 0% deforestation for confectionery FMCGs

By Alan Kroeger

Over the past three decades, the rate of deforestation around the world has noticeably declined. This comes against an ever-increasing societal pressure from consumers and governments for more sustainable food products, which applies to everything from...

Getty Images / BestForBest

Researchers use cocoa to tackle obesity in mice

By Danielle Masterson

Dietary supplementation with cocoa can improve obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, according to a new study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Cocoa futures have been performing poorly since the beginning of the year. Pic: ConfectioneryNews

Commodities

Production surplus could weigh down cocoa futures in Q2

By Anthony Myers

Increased output from Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, along with decline in European cocoa bean usage due to the resurgence of COVID-19 infections means a production surplus projected in the 2020-21 season, with cocoa futures on the commodities market underperforming...

Olam expects a more favourable market condition in 2021, after posting a strong set of results. Pic Olam International

Financial results

Olam reports robust 2020 performance

By Anthony Myers

Olam has reported a strong operating performance across its new structure, which includes its cocoa business in Olam Food Ingredients (OFI).