Cocoa

Barry Callebaut will publish the seventh edition of its Forever Chocolate Progress Report at the end of November. Pic: Barry Callebaut

Sustainability

Barry Callebaut ranked top for ESG risks management

By Anthony Myers

Barry Callebaut has been ranked in the 1st percentile in the management of ESG risks in both the Food Product and Packaged Food companies by Morningstar Sustainalytics.

York Cocoa House combines a small manufacturing facility with a retail cafe in the heart of the city. Pic York Cocoa House

Podcast

How York Cocoa House is keeping the city’s chocolate industry alive

By Anthony Myers

A recent article in National Geographic described York as ‘England’s chocolate capital’. The city was home to two major confectionery companies, Terry’s founded in 1767 and Rowntree’s in 1862, the inventor of KitKat, which is still produced today at the...

Cocoa trees naturally absorb cadmium from soils via their roots and deposit it in the nibs (centre) of cocoa beans. Pic: As You Sow

Special report

Chocolate companies respond to latest claims of excessive cadmium in cocoa

By Anthony Myers

Consumer Reports (CR), a US independent, non-profit member organisation, has doubled down on its campaign against lead and cadmium in chocolate and urges changes after a new survey finds a third of products contain ‘concerning’ levels of heavy metals.

Pic: GettyImages

Sustainability

New database launched to drive innovation in Sustainable Food Systems

By Anthony Myers

IFIS Sustainability a cutting-edge, free Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database that curates the latest scientific research at the intersection of food and sustainability, has launched a new digital tool providing food innovators access to the latest...

Image: Getty/Media Lens King

Cocoa leaders demand a fair price for all

By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

Off the back of Tony's Chocolonely’s warning that the new cocoa farmgate price is still too low, other chocolate brands and global organisations call for an end to corporate greed and push for equity.

The rally of cocoa prices on the markets should mean farmers are paid more for beans. Pic: CN

Commodities

Tight cocoa supplies push up prices to meet strong global demand

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa prices climbed this week as the result of stronger global cocoa demand, with barchart.com reporting that Gepex, an exporter group that includes six of the world's biggest cocoa grinders, said that its Q3 cocoa processing was 183,731 MT, up...

Belcolade’s new green factory at Erembodegem, Belgium. Pic: Belcolade

EXCLUSIVE

Belcolade opens first carbon-neutral chocolate factory in Belgium

By Anthony Myers

Belcolade, the Puratos-owned Belgian Chocolate brand, has opened a new carbon-neutral chocolate factory, running on 100% renewable electricity, sourcing 90% of its water from collected rainwater, and using five times less energy in heat production.

Alejandra Sarasty, Chocolate Cordillera's Chief Global B2B Officer, embraces one of the women cocoa farmers from the ATENEA programme. Pic: CN

Webinar

The importance of women in the cocoa value chain

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa production is decisively linked with women, and sustainable value chains are, too. However, how will their roles differ with the upcoming EU legislation on deforestation, and in a broader issue, will it threaten cocoa and chocolate exporters?

Former ICCO Council President Abel Fernández addresses members at the recent Council Meeting. Pic: ICCO

Sustainability

ICCO celebrates 50 years of cocoa sustainability commitment

By Anthony Myers

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) marked half a century of commitment to sustainable growth in the cocoa sector with a special celebration held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, where it is now headquartered.

Women from the  COOPAAPROMAN community in Cote d'Ivoire organise their Village Savings Loans. Pic: Magnum

Sustainability

AWA by Magnum supports more female cocoa farmers in Cote d’Ivoire

By Anthony Myers

To mark World Cocoa & Chocolate Day (which took place on 1 October) Magnum ice cream has released more details on its female empowerment programme, upscaling the work to reach thousands of additional women throughout cocoa communities in the West...

The assessment carried out in September 2023 shows no pesticide cases in PRONATEC's organic cocoa butter, mass and powders. Pic: PRONATEC

Production

PRONATEC reports a clean bill of health for its organic cocoa beans

By Anthony Myers

The family-owned company has been processing cocoa beans into cocoa mass, butter, and powder at its own exclusively organic plant in Winterthur, Switzerland, since June 2022 and says an assessment carried out this month shows there have been no pesticide...

A Brazilian court has found 'unlawful' working conditions in Cargill's cocoa supply chain. Pic: Cargill

Sustainabilty

Cargill accused of child labour practices on Brazilian cocoa farms

By Anthony Myers

Cargill, one of the world’s largest cocoa suppliers, has been ordered by a Brazilian court to pay 600,000 reais ($120,185) as indemnity for allegedly buying cocoa from farms where child labour or forced work has been identified.

The guide will help cacao producers communicate the quality of their cacao. Image Source: Ilka & Franz/Getty Images

Cacao guide aims to help producers communicate the quality of their cacao

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

For a long time, there has been no commonly agreed way of assessing and communicating the quality of cacao, the seed from which stems cocoa and chocolate. Now, however, a new initiative has been unveiled that will aim to do just that, with contributions...

Pic: Cocoa Canopy

Packaging

Cocoa Canopy repackages its beads for the service sector

By Anthony Myers

UK-based drinking chocolate brand, Cocoa Canopy, has announced a new format for its 900g foodservice packs across all five of its varieties, supplying the sector with a product they can display all year round.