Cameroon has announced a significant increase in cocoa production over the past two seasons, with figures showing that the crop in the 2022-23 season was 681 tonnes, almost four times higher than the 182 tonnes recorded in 2020-21.
Japanese researchers have found that eight-weeks’ consumption of a beverage containing flavanol-rich cacao extract reduced negative mood and improved positive mood among middle-aged women.
Recognition of its B2B division reaffirms Grupo Nutresa's commitment to globalisation and the purpose of brands such as Cordillera in developing businesses with a sustainable vision.
The cocoa and chocolates industry in Asia Pacific is concerned that the EU Deforestation Regulation could lead a two-tier market for cocoa beans, which could have far-ranging cost and pricing implications.
Ghana has announced a state-guaranteed cocoa price paid to its farmers of 20,943 Ghana cedi ($1,837) per tonne for the new 2023-2024 season – an increase of more than 63% in a bid to boost their income and prevent beans from being smuggled to neighbouring...
In the first major announcement since Peter Feld took over the reins as chief executive officer from Peter Boone in April, the Group said it is to invest CHF 500 million ($563 million) over the next two years in core customer areas and in efficiency measures...
The Olam Group Limited has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, olam food ingredients (ofi), which includes its cocoa division, has secured a multi-tranche sustainability-linked facility aggregating $1,750 million.
The Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa, whose aim is to transform the cocoa industry by upcycling parts of the cocoa fruit that are usually overlooked, has inaugurated Africa's largest cocoa fruit factory.
Cocoa traded on ICE Futures in New York hit a 12-year high of $3,640.50 per tonne on Wednesday (30 August), as analysts reacted to a consumer surge in chocolate, as well as the adverse impacts of the El Niño weather phenomenon on West Africa’s cocoa crop.
Transparency is a defining feature of the craft chocolate industry. However, with the need for benchmarks or regulations for this budding industry, entrepreneurs and stakeholders interpret and apply transparency differently, new research published in...
Bitzel’s Chocolate says it is offering a ‘Willy Wonka-Style Experience’ at its new 7,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, when it opens its doors in Suwanee, Georgia, USA, in the autumn.
Representatives from many of the major chocolate companies and cocoa suppliers are due to travel to Amsterdam at the end of October to take part in the Sustainable Commodities and Landscapes Forum.
Cocoa grindings in Europe, North America and Asia fell for the second quarter of 2023, according to latest figures released by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), sending cocoa prices soaring on the markets as consumers look for cheaper chocolate.
Sustainable chocolate brand MIA, short for made in Africa, says its new Ghana Gold bars have been recognised with two Great Taste Awards, one of the world's largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation schemes.
Tradin Organic, a Netherlands-based certified organic food ingredients supplier for the food sector, claims it can help chocolate manufacturers, brands and retailers navigate the new EU laws on deforestation by sharing access with its clients to all data...
A coalition of campaigners fighting to end environmental and human rights abuses in the cocoa sector has targeted coffee chain Starbucks to come clean on where it sources the ingredients for its chocolate products.
The Swiss company said it is tripling the amount invested in the last four years in its chocolate and biscuit operations in Brazil to 2.7bn reais ($550.8 million) for the next three years.
A new initiative to promote innovation in Colombia’s cocoa sector has been launched with grants and awards for projects that promote peace building and forest conversation.
The Singapore-based agri business (which includes ofi - its cocoa and ingredients division) has reported Operational PATMI (profit after tax and minority interest) of S$184.0 million ($136 million) so far this year.
As new research reveals that deforestation in the world’s largest cocoa-growing country could be far more worse than originally predicted, a White Paper published by Barry Callebaut looks how to tackle productivity on cocoa farms to end the cycle of unsustainable...
Cote d’Ivoire’s main cocoa crop (October to March) has been buoyed by above-average rain, with farmers pleased by the number of cherelles, or pods, already on the trees.
Confectionery giant Ferrero has released its latest annual Cocoa Charter Progress Report, claiming ‘significant progress in the company’s efforts to ‘source cocoa responsibly.’
Mondelēz International is the latest chocolate maker to raise its full-year growth forecasts in its Q2 results following on from Hershey and Nestle last week, leveraging strong demand to hike prices and shield their margins from higher cocoa and raw material...
Nestlé has published a progress report on its Income Accelerator Program, launched at the beginning of 2022 in Cote d’Ivoire, to support cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire and incentivise them into greater productivity.
Luxury Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli has posted stronger-than-expected operating profits in the first half of 2023 and raised its full-year outlook, after hiking up prices for its chocolate easter bunnies and pralines.
The Dutch impact company with a mission to make chocolate 100% ‘slave free’ has launched a munchable snack range that it claims ends exploitation in chocolate by ensuring cocoa farmers are paid fairly.
Sustainable chocolate brand GoodSAM Foods has announced a strong first half of 2023 with a record-breaking first and second quarter, driven by an expanded retail reach into US, and industry awards recognition, while exceeding fundraising goals and sales.
Barry Callebaut has announced Kai Hummel has been appointed Global Head of Corporate Communications, taking over from Christiaan Prins, who had led the department since January 2020.
Cocoa bean processing in North America has slumped almost 12% in the second quarter, according to figures released by the National Confectioners Association, the lowest in almost 15 years for that period, while in Europe and Asia, factories ground the...
Premium chocolate and cocoa supplier Barry Callebaut has announced the expansion of its operation in Brazil through the opening of a logistics point in the northeast of the country, the Group has confirmed.
In latest market news reduced cocoa supplies from Cote d’Ivoire after recent heavy rains saw ICE NY cocoa on Monday close +7 (+0.21%), and Sep ICE London cocoa #7 closed +16 (+0.74%).
Colombian B4B chocolate manufacturer, Luker Chocolate, is expanding its collaborative sustainability plan into South Bolívar, a remote cocoa-producing region in the country.
Barry Callebaut has reported lower nine-month sales volumes in its 9-Month Key Sales Figures for Fiscal Year 2022-23 after being hit by growing global inflationary pressures and the high price of cocoa on the commodity market that pushes up the price...
Olam food ingredients (ofi) has introduced two new circular biomass boilers at its cocoa processing factories in the Netherlands and Germany, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The importance to the cocoa sector of female farmers has been increasingly recognised in the past decade with the introduction of specific support for female-led Fairtrade cooperatives in West Africa, along with initiatives from other actors in different...
The event, held in Pavilion 5 at Porte de Versailles from 28 October to 1 November 2023, is an eagerly awaited get-together for industry players and is also open to the general public.
The price of cocoa, and therefore chocolate, may be rising but the demand for chocolate from consumers also shows no signs of abating as the industry celebrates this year’s World Chocolate Day (7 July) with some nutty friends.
The Rainforest Alliance Annual Report has called for a new strategic direction to address interconnected global crises as the organisation sets out its new vision for accelerating action to address the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, systemic poverty,...
Recent bad weather in West Africa has threatened cocoa production resulting in record-high prices for the commodity on the Intercontinental Exchange in London.
Nestlé is driving a fresh incentive to protect the Cavally Forest, which lies adjacent to cocoa production areas in western Cote d'Ivoire, and is one of the last remaining dense forests and a primary biodiversity spot threatened by deforestation.
Cabosse Naturals, established by Barry Callebaut to unlock the potential of the entire cacaofruit, has launched a ‘free-flowing, 100% pure cacaofruit powder’, a new ingredient that can replace refined sugar in food manufacture, which also caters to growing...
In June 2022, PRONATEC opened the first organic cocoa processing facility in Switzerland, located in Beringen, near the company’s headquarters in Winterthur. A year on, ConfectioneryNews caught up with MD/CEO David Yersin to find out how the new plant...
With supply concerns heightened by recent flooding in some of Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa farms, there are concerns it could affect the start of the next October-to-March main crop, farmers told local media at the beginning of the week, while NY cocoa prices...
Organisers of the Cacao of Excellence Awards Ceremony have announced the event will take place on 8 February 2024 as part of the CHOCOA Trade Show, Chocolate Makers’ Forum, Conference and Chocolate Festival during Amsterdam Cocoa Week, uniting the world’s...
Shares in Luxury UK chocolate maker Hotel Chocolat dropped 19% at the end of last week after it announced in a statement on Friday (23 June) it is expected to turn a loss in the current financial year. Revenue of £201.8m and underlying profit before tax...
Highlighting steps taken during the 2021-22 financial year, the Group has released its 14th Sustainability Report announcing it is on track to meet its key sustainability objectives and targets centred around four key pillars: protecting the environment,...
In the rugged landscapes of rural Colombia, where conflict and adversity have cast a shadow for over 50 years, an unlikely hero has emerged: cocoa. Beyond its delectable taste and aroma, cocoa is proving to be a powerful force for driving peace and prosperity...
The global provider of sustainable agricultural solutions has published its annual progress report under the Cocoa Forest Initiative (CFI), claiming it has exceeded all targets across each reporting category.
Few ecosystems are as important as rainforests, but with scientists claiming we are close to a tipping point and that a massive process of forest restoration is needed to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, ConfectioneryNews spoke with Kerry Daroci,...
Swiss-based Jacobs Foundation, along with the Colombian Ministry of Education and Fundación Empresarios por la Educación, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to contribute to the improvement of the holistic learning outcomes of children in Colombia...
