The global vegan chocolate market is estimated to be worth a conservative $2 billion by 2032, and as the Veganuary campaign begins, the surge in awareness about the benefits of plant-based food and confectionery products could see an even greater growth...
Biotech company Oobli is expanding its confections portfolio with the release of a line of milk chocolate bars, demonstrating sweet proteins' potential for chocolate applications, company CEO Ali Wing told FoodNavigator-USA.
Spurred on by a drive to pursue positive impact and leave the corporate world, four founders came together to launch their Mediterranean cacao-free chocolate brand.
Chocolate confectionery is a significant market, expected to be worth over $128 billion (130 billion Euro) in global retail sales by the end of 2024. With a volume growth of +2% over the next 5 years to 2027, it is also a dynamic market, so what trends...
ConfectioneryNews will be presenting a special live webinar on Tuesday 23 January 24 at 17:00Paris / 10:00AM Chicago to discuss the new requirements for market access for cocoa and chocolate suppliers into the European Union.
It was almost 20 years ago that Colombian cocoa was officially recognized by the ICCO (International Cocoa Organization) as Cacao Fino de Aroma (fine aroma beans). Almost 95% of Colombia’s total cocoa production is classed as Cacao Fino de Aroma by the...
Knoops, the UK retailer of artisan chocolate drinks, is celebrating a merry Christmas after announcing solid financial growth and ambitious expansion plans for 2024 – partly the result of becoming the brand partner of choice for Wonka, the hit film prequel...
Attempting to comply with the numerous levels of certification imposed on farmers, suppliers, and producers in terms of cost and bureaucracy has been described as ‘administration hell’ by one cocoa cooperative director, who spends up to 80% of his time...
As an early adopter of the “triple bottom line” framework, the premium confection company Endangered Species Chocolate has been “doing well by doing good” for 30 years by responsibly sourcing ingredients, supporting fair trade, prioritizing sustainability...
As many know, the cocoa industry is sometimes opaque and complex. Still, confessed chocolate-lover Jon Trask, who is also CEO of Dimitra, says his company's recently developed Blockchain Deforestation Platform could provide a solution to help farmers...
Olam food ingredients (ofi) has identified four chocolate and confectionery trends set to shape this year’s festive season, with the growth of artisanal and handcrafted treats particularly noteworthy.
The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) has published its report on the results from 15 value chain projects in eight countries, generating insights into approaches to tackle the various socio-economic and environmental sustainability challenges...
Private-label chocolate supplier Hames Chocolates has expanded its hot chocolate range for this winter’s peak sales season to cater to what it calls ‘the growing demand for self-treating and affordable luxury.’
The UK’s favourite Christmas chocolates have been crowned just in time for the festive season – with Celebrations from Mars taking the accolade this year, according to polling by YouGov.
To’ak Chocolate routinely charges over $300 for a single bar of chocolate, which is claimed to be the most expensive chocolate in the world. The brand justifies its price because it is responsibly sourced from a cacao variety, Ancient Nacional, native...
Food sustainability actions need to transition away from future aims to real-world change processes to help the global food system reach its targets, new research suggests.
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), in collaboration with IDH and key government officials, highlighted significant strides in sustainable forest conservation efforts from the chocolate industry and the success of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI),...
Large chocolate and cocoa companies, including multinationals including Mars, Ferrero, Mondelēz, Hershey, Nestlé, and traders like Barry Callebaut and Cargill, are not paying prices that allow cocoa farmers to earn a living. This is the conclusion of...
As consumers become increasingly wary of sugar content, CPG companies are meeting the demand for zero-sugar products with the help of natural sweeteners, a trend set to gain momentum in the US as regulators and scientists push for reductions.
Luker Chocolate is celebrating the completion of The Cacao Effect, a five-year initiative that the company said positively impacted over 6,000 rural families in Colombia. The closing event was held on 24 November 2023 in Bogotá, Colombia, and showcased...
More than 30 ingredients specialists are set to attend ProSweets Cologne, the supplier fair that runs along side ISM sweets and snacks trade show, to offer natural and sustainable solutions that contain less sugar or carry a clean label declaration.
There’s no more evident sign that the winter holidays are here than the emergence of candy canes on store shelves in the US – but what is the “right” way to eat them? It’s a fun question that always gets American consumers in a twist, so here goes …
Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest supplier of cocoa and chocolate, says it ‘remains steadfast in its advocacy of policies to make sustainable chocolate the norm as it releases its seventh Forever Chocolate progress report (covering fiscal year 2022-23).
Vegan and free-from-chocolate brand NOMO has won Best Independent Brand for the third consecutive year at the Free From Food Awards and a big win at William Reed’s The Grocer New Product & Packaging Awards.
First Lady Jill Biden has enlisted the help of the National Confectioners Association's (NCA) help with Christmas decorations as she unveiled The White House 2023 holiday theme and décor.
Health and wellness remain top priorities for snackers, but as peak pandemic continues to recede, indulgence is becoming more important and as such consumers are less willing to sacrifice taste for functional benefit, according to Emily Strobel, VP, growth...
As part of Mars Inc.’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the confectionery major is optimising product recipes to include more environmentally friendly ingredients.
The cocoa and chocolate making industry has been warned that cocoa stocks languishing in EU warehouses during the 18-month transition period leading up to the European Union’s Deforestation law that kicks in at the end of December 2024 may have to be...
Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA) has launched a new membership drive with special incentives as it seeks to attract more craft chocolate companies and grow its impact.
Cadbury’s owner, Mondelēz International, revealed an uplift to its margins this year from price increases that helped offset higher costs for cocoa, sugar, and transportation.
Increased scrutiny of environmental sustainability claims by regulators and competitors has many brands turning to third-party certifications to reassure consumers about claims’ veracity and to protect against litigation – but recent movements in the...
Sustainable craft chocolate stockists Cocoa Runners is celebrating its tenth anniversary by hosting the Christmas Craft Chocolate Fair in London on 2 and 3 December, at Fidelio, a music venue, cafe and restaurant.
‘Aligning for Global Action’ is the theme for The World Cocoa Foundation’s 2024 Partnership Meeting, the leading global industry event in sustainable cocoa, which this year takes place in the Beurs van Berlage (Old Stock Exchange) in Amsterdam from 6...
The co-founders of Hotel Chocolat, Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris, will receive £144m ($180m) each after agreeing to sell the UK luxury chocolate business to Mars, which has agreed to pay £534m for the high-end chocolatier.
The Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI) is set to present updates on the industry’s commitment to eliminate deforestation and restore degraded forests at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held this year in Dubai from 30...
Mars has bought ailing UK business Hotel Chocolat for approximately £534 million ($662.25 million) in a deal announced to the London stock market this morning.
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.
Global organisation Fairtrade is working to ensure farmers receive just and equitable working conditions. A new campaign, led by two jurisdictions, is reasserting these efforts.
With enforcement of a new deforestation law on the horizon, stakeholders along the food supply chain and working to ensure compliance. We look at the new tools and services being developed that promise enhanced traceability and due diligence.
The Dutch capital and largest cocoa port in the world is preparing to celebrate cocoa and chocolate during February by becoming an important hub for business and for innovative thinking on the sustainability of the cocoa value chains.
A new report from the National Confectioners Association (NCA) has found that 64% of total chocolate and candy sales in the US are attributed to the big four seasons – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays - ensuring that confectionery...
Cocoa prices in New York reached a record high of $4,000 per tonne at the close of play last week – with some analysts predicting a supply shortfall in the 2023-24 season, which could push up prices even higher over the coming months.
The Salon du Chocolat’s reputation for showcasing artisanal chocolatiers from across the globe was enhanced this month with Paris providing an ideal backdrop to an event that attracted 250 exhibitors, drawing more than 60,000 people over five days to...
The VOICE network, publishers of the influential Cocoa Barometer, which calls to account the chocolate industry on child labour and other sustainability issues, has issued a statement following reports in ConfectioneryNews and other media, on allegations...
Ferrero Group considers itself well prepared for the EU Deforestation Regulation, which will apply to its palm oil and cocoa supply chains. But potential challenges and unintended consequences could threaten its effectiveness, suggests Francesco Tramontin,...
Fairtrade International has announced a new partnership with Satelligence to scale up satellite monitoring of forested areas and farms to its globally certified cocoa and coffee producer organisations to meet new EU regulations.
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) has put a call-out for bids to host the 3rd edition of the International Symposium on Cocoa Research (ISCR).
The African Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, which brings together civil society cocoa platforms from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, has issued a statement alleging the cocoa industry is refusing to pay at the current market price plus the Living Income...
Luxury UK chocolatier and cacao grower Hotel Chocolat has launched two new chocolate bars, pledging 100% of the bar sales to fund a ‘better way for cacao farming’, as part of the brand’s drive for positive change for nature and farming families.
Barry Callebaut’s new CEO Peter Feld outlined his strategic vision for the world’s largest chocolate and cocoa supplier after shares in the Group have fallen 22% in the past 12 months.