Strong consumer demand for affordable, sustainable products will drive the Fairtrade market in 2023, the organisation said after a successful awareness campaign in the UK brought ethically sourced products, such as chocolate, bananas and coffee, into...
In closing this year’s NCA State of the Industry Conference in Miami, John Downs, the association’s President and CEO, said one of the ‘Strategic Bets’ for the next 12 months is to address the largest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues...
Archila comes to Fairtrade America with more than 15 years of experience working in a range of industries, from natural food to e-commerce retail and consumer electronics.
Sylvie Woltering-Valat, head of marketing at global cacaofruit expert Cabosse Naturals, explains the impact upcycling cacaofruit can make towards the journey of more sustainable supply chains.
Empty supermarket shelves and stock shortages are becoming increasingly common in the UK, but the Fairtrade Foundation has issued a warning that everyday essentials including cocoa, bananas and coffee could be at risk of becoming ‘endangered’ due to climate...
ASEAN consumer confidence in regional trade relations with the European Union have plummeted on the back of the latter’s recently-passed deforestation law and its impacts on various food commodities, as major palm oil producing countries in the region...
Fairtrade and the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, have announced an expanded partnership aimed at helping farmers and agricultural workers to diversify and access new markets.
PRONATEC, an owner-run Swiss family company that maintains long-standing partnerships with cooperatives in the countries of origin, has been a pioneer in the global organic and Fairtrade movement for 45 years. In 2022, it opened its own impressive and...
Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa regulator, Conseil du Café Cacao (CCC), has initiated a scheme to distribute electronic cards to cocoa farmers to help track beans from farms to their export ports and ensure the growers are paid a guaranteed price for their produce.
Tony’s Open Chain, an initiative by Tony’s Chocolonely that invites other chocolate manufacturers to ramp up sustainability efforts in their own supply chains, has announced it is partnering with chocolate processor Baronie & Cémoi.
Digital payments are increasingly accepted in cocoa-growing origins and after decades of farmer-level cash transactions, cocoa farmers in Brazil and Ecuador were the first in Barry Callebaut’s supply chain to go digital with payments.
A political agreement has been reached on the European Union’s due diligence legislation, and sustainable palm oil organisation Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is supportive. Yet challenges and risks exist, explains Ruben Brunsveld, deputy director...
In a statement, Fairtrade said: ‘Risk assessment and collaboration with farmers and workers are cornerstones of sustainable supply chains and essential for evolving due diligence requirements’.
Chocolate and cocoa supplier Blommer has upped its sustainability strategy by announcing a new partnership with Satelligence, a world leader in geospatial sustainability.
Gary Lewis, President of NEODA and Chief Commercial Officer for KTC Edibles, takes a closer look at sustainability in the oils and fat industry, exploring some of the challenges preventing progress, as well as the positive trends.
In December, the EU provisionally agreed on a new regulation to ensure that supply chains are free from processes and products that cause deforestation, in an already volatile period, will the new legislation place more pressure on sustainability in the...
Cargill’s commitment to cocoa sustainability stretches back to 2000, when it began offering seminars to cocoa farmers. Kate Clancy has been with Cargill and working in sustainability since 2011, taking up her recent position of Group Sustainability Director,...
Despite numerous government and industry pledges to reduce deforestation in Ghana, forest loss in the West African country remains high, claims Mighty Earth.
Dutch ethical brand Tony’s Chocolonely claims its unique sourcing model has substantially reduces child labour in its cocoa supply chain – and has called for other companies to up their game.
ConfectioneryNews looks back over another tumultuous and eventful 12 months and asks what our most popular stories tell us about the state of the industry.
As ConfectioneryNews reported last month, the trend for single-origin cocoa ingredients has been growing for some time, as consumers with a sweet craving also look more closely at how and where their cocoa is sourced.
Chocolate and cocoa supplier Barry Callebaut Group says it welcomes the swift negotiation on the European Union’s (EU) Regulation on deforestation-free products aiming to minimize EU-driven deforestation and forest degradation, and reduce greenhouse gas...
Fairtrade has announced an update to its Cocoa Standard with a reinforced focus on human rights, the fight against deforestation, traceability, and living incomes across the sector.
Fairtrade America partners, including Tony’s Chocolonely, Gallant International and Divine Chocolate, have announced a strengthening of commitments to the label for social justice and sustainability.
The European Union has agreed a new law to prevent companies from selling cocoa and other commodities into the EU market that can be traced back to deforestation around the world.
‘No one is doing what they should be doing: Both industry and governments will need to significantly change their business as usual. Let us be very clear; not a single stakeholder group is currently doing what they should be doing to ensure farmers achieve...
A provisional political agreement has been reached between the EU Parliament and the Council in relation to EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains.
The German ingredients supplier is investing in UK-based Clean Food Group (CFG) – a start-up developing a bio-equivalent cultivated alternative to palm oil – via its investment arm, Doehler Ventures.
Chocolate and cocoa supplier claims that one out of two of its products sold contains sustainable chocolate and is on track to meet its target, set in 2016, to ‘make sustainable chocolate the norm’.
Ingredients show Food Ingredients Europe (FiE), co-located with Hi Europe, returns to France this week and will be held for the first time at the sprawling Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – occupying four halls with more than 1,200 exhibitors, ranging...
Why does the European Commission consider its proposed due diligence legislation – designed to curb deforestation and forest degradation in supply chains – the best proposal on the table, globally?
British high street brand Fudge Kitchen said it is committed to ensuring its gifting range is sustainable this Christmas after a rebrand earlier this year focussed on minimising its impact on the environment.
Moving on from the comfort and nostalgic flavors that grounded consumers during the pandemic, consumer interest in more diverse and unexpected flavors within dessert categories is on the rise, according to consumer research from T. Hasegawa.
Kate Robberson, who plays with world folk group Ley Line, has launched her own chocolate brand, Joaihú, a direct-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate from the old-growth rainforest in Bahia, Brazil.
In a statement the company said it is making measurable progress on its commitment to act on climate change. Recent initiatives include the launch of a third utility-scale solar project, energy and water optimization investments and continued progress...
Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa-growing countries, have stepped up their pressure on the chocolate industry by threatening to punish companies visiting their farms to estimate harvests, which is a key factor in forecasting the price...
Fresh data released by transparency initiative Trase reveals that cocoa farming swallowed 2.4 million ha of forest in Côte d’Ivoire between 2000 and 2019, an area almost the size of Rwanda. This represents 45% of the total deforestation and forest degradation...
Located in the heart of the country’s cocoa-growing region, the former yuca farm has been leading research not only into sustainable practices but also into developing two new types of cocoa bean varieties. ConfectioneryNews paid a visit recently to find...
Arguably, some of the best single-origin chocolate on Earth is produced in Madagascar, where the country’s ecosystem gives its cocoa unique flavours and aromas.
The premium Belgian chocolate brand said the move demonstrates its commitment to sustainable production in its supply chain by prioritising the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
Europe’s main sweets and snacks tradeshow will promote a positive message for the industry when it convenes in Cologne after what will no doubt be a long hard winter for businesses.
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) partners have pledged to ramp up their investment in climate smart food systems ahead of Agriculture Day at COP27. But for critics the US$8bn on the table doesn't go nearly far enough...
The Cheerios and Shreddies maker has contributed CFH 100,000 ($101,647) to the Africa Food Prize to unearth the bold initiatives and technical innovations that will create a new era of food security and build great climate change resilience on the continent.
Colombian Chocolate Manufacturer Luker Chocolate has announced it has acquired a majority stake in Slovakian Lyra Group in a deal that will strengthen Luker’s product capabilities and increase flexibility in logistics for European clients.
The European Union and its partners have announced they’re raising 450 million euros ($442 million) to support Cote d’Ivoire’s push to tackle child labour and deforestation linked to cocoa production, while also improving farmer pay.
Barry Callebaut caught the market by surprise by rescheduling its Full-Year Results 2021-22 analysts and media call to Tuesday instead of today (Wednesday 2 November) after the figures were published early due to an ‘unforeseen event’. The world’s largest...
