The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) wrapped up a successful Partnership Meeting, despite the absence of the two main producer countries, with new commitments announced on making cocoa supply chains more sustainable and achieving more impact in helping farmers...
After almost 150 years of traditional chocolate craft, Barry Callebaut has announced a major breakthrough for the industry by redesigning the farming, fermentation, and roasting of the cocoa bean to create what it has called the ‘second generation of...
Cocoa supplier olam food ingredients (ofi), has won the Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year Award at the 2022 Global Good Awards, which recognise businesses, NGOs, charities and social enterprises that are driving social and environmental change.
Cocoa farmers, as well as workers in other commodities and crops, experienced a boost in Fairtrade Premium earnings thanks to a recovery in Fairtrade product sales throughout 2021, Fairtrade International’s latest annual report has revealed.
Magnum’s broader female empowerment programme has got off to a fantastic start following the graduation of the first 198 women. Megan Willis, Head of Sustainable Sourcing at Unilever, Magnum’s owner, gives ConfectioneryNews an update in an exclusive podcast...
The World Cocoa Foundation’s (WCF) Partnership Meeting in Brussels this week has sold out, event organisers said, despite Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, the two world’s largest cocoa producers, declining an invitation due to a pricing row with the industry.
With the cost-of-living crisis raging unabated thanks to political volatility, it's only to be expected that ‘redefining value’ tops Innova Market Insights’ Top Ten Trends for 2023. With budgets stretched, consumers will increasingly seek out brand...
With support from the Conseil du Café Cacao (CCC) and Ivoirian Ministry of Agriculture, the the launch took place in in Abidjan. The Livelihoods Ecosystem Advancement Program (LEAP) was co-created by the ECOOKIM cooperative farmers, Mars and Fairtrade...
The International Cocoa Council (ICCO) has laid out and adopted a new set of amendments relating to the International Cocoa Agreement (ICA) 2010 at a specially convened meeting last month in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Ghana Gold, a new chocolate bar range from ethical bean-to-bar chocolate company MIA (Made in Africa), has struck a deal with Empire Bespoke Foods to import and distribute the product throughout the UK.
Like Medellin, the city in Colombia where the company is headquartered, Cordillera Chocolates has been quietly going through its own transition over the past decade, in this case, positioning itself to become a global leader in the cocoa sector. ConfectioneryNews...
EU-proposed due-diligence legislation has been criticised for triggering unintended consequences across the supply chain, which begs the question: will such a law actually promote climate smart food?
Mars Wrigley has declared that from 2023, 100% of the cocoa purchased for its direct factory operations in Europe will be verified as ‘responsibly sourced cocoa’.
Independent UK chocolatiers Cocoa Canopy is upping the drinking chocolate category with a new range that crafts unique fine chocolate beads, for a superior, more intense drink.
Nestlé’s ‘innovative income accelerator programme’ to increase cocoa farmer income and achieve full traceability in its cocoa supply chain was the subject of an informative webinar between the Rainforest Alliance and Nestlé on the importance of regenerative...
ofi (olam food ingredients), a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients, says it has substantially advanced towards the climate goals stated in its Cocoa Compass sustainability report – but issued a call for the EU to work with other...
The European Cocoa Forum, held recently in Rome, Italy, was marked by frank and open discussions on how best to safeguard and direct the future of the hugely important global of the cocoa sector, said Paul Davis, European Cocoa Association (ECA) president.
Cocoa and chocolate companies have announced greater cooperation and a willingness willing to share their cocoa farmer data with Ivorian and Ghanaian authorities to further traceability.
Three years since its last gathering in Lisbon, the ECA Cocoa Forum wasted no time in getting back down to business in Rome as part of its wider remit to facilitate dialogue on how to move the industry forward in key areas including food safety, sustainability,...
Barry Callebaut has announced it is extending its Cocoa Horizons programme in Nigeria, pledging to pay an additional amount of 26 million Naira ($40,841) in premiums for deliveries of sustainable cocoa beans in the 2021-2022 season.
In this exclusive op-ed for ConfectioneryNews by Brett Beach, Co-founder of sustainable chocolate brand Made in Africa (MIA), and Dr Kristy Leissle, a member of CN’s editorial board and the author of numerous books and articles on cocoa and industry politics,...
The UK woke up this morning (7 September) to a new leader and with hopes the new government will immediately take steps to alleviate the crushing living prices that are badly impacting consumers and putting industry at risk.
The two companies, known for their passion for social justice, said they were working together because of their shared commitment to end slavery and child labour in the chocolate industry by using sustainably sourced cocoa beans.
Uncommon Cacao, which describes itself as the ‘first Transparent Trade cacao supply chain company,' has released its 2021 Transparency Report covering key performance indicators over the past 12 months.
The Government of Belize has launched a new initiative to tackle child labour and reduce its incidence by eliminating the worst forms by 2025 following extended dialogue with national stakeholders, cooperatives, and social justice organizations, including...
Coral reefs are degrading at an alarming rate – threatening the health of our oceans and the ecosystems that support sea life. Confectionery-to-pet food manufacturer Mars is working to turn the tide. FoodNavigator catches up with the company’s chief marine...
The nut arm of global ingredients specialist has announced its first sustainability targets for its 50,000 acres of almond orchards and farming operations in Australia, the US and Vietnam.
Colombia’s Cordillera Chocolates is a world pioneer in cocoa development. Established almost 60 years ago it has been training cocoa growers in various areas of agricultural practices, sustainability issues, disease control and productivity – and the...
A multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together more than 70 members from cocoa suppliers, chocolate manufacturers, traders, retailers, NGOs, research institutions as well as the Swiss Government, the Platform’s annual meeting was an opportunity to discuss...
The palm oil sector will need to emphasise how its current sustainability and development strategies are also ‘future-oriented’ beyond standards and certifications if it is to successfully penetrate new markets in the Middle East.
A new report by EIT Food – one of eight communities to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe – reveals only 47% of Europeans trust the food sector. French consumers lead the pack in scepticism.
The company has published its ‘Chocolate Foodprint’ for 2021-22, which leads the way for artisan brands in transparency and regeneration in the cocoa sector. We talk to Philipp Kauffmann, the company’s founder.
We are nowhere near on track to keep global warning below 2°C, was the stark conclusion of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. But hope was also on offer. FoodNavigator looks at how food system transformation can help mitigate...
Sustainable palm oil production could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of commitments made at the COP26 summit – but experts who have been assessing the fine print say that the devil lies in the detail of implementation.
Palm oil industry experts have warned that the European Union’s (EU) latest proposed regulations on deforestation carry major risk of upsetting Indonesia amidst ongoing free-trade negotiations.
Heading into 2022, consumers are demanding that brands prioritize sustainability, workers' rights, and other human advocacy causes, according to independent third-party certification organization Fairtrade America in its biennial Consumer Insights...
Established in Seattle by Val and Breezy Griffith in the wake of losing a young friend, SkinnyDipped says it is committed 'to creating insanely delicious sweet snacks with way less sugar and no dirty secrets' – and helping other women in the...
PepsiCo has expanded its green tech accelerator programme in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) to reach sustainable design innovators across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The French government has recently updated its commitment for sustainable cocoa with a new initiative that brings together the State, industry companies, traders, distribution brands, civil society organisations, research institutes working in the cocoa...
Peanut consumption in the US has hit record levels for the second year in a row – rising to an all-time high of 7.9 pounds (3.5kg) per American in 2021. However, the National Peanut Board (NPB) said the consistent rise of the nut’s popularity is not surprising,...
Chocolatier Goüter has launched its first Kickstarter campaign to raise £25k to start production of chocolate and nut clusters made from bread that would otherwise be tossed.
The Mexican bakery giant posted new highs for the second quarter – with a 16.2% increase in sales and adjusted EBITDA growing nearly 37% – as it motivated to revitalise those channels and categories that suffered during the pandemic.
There is little chance of food manufacturers covering the costs of palm oil sustainability efforts, despite new research saying it would require just a 2% increase in prices, according to an industry expert.
Palm oil and sustainability disagreements have caused ASEAN-EU trade relations to sour even further over the past year with a potential trade war on the line, even as the UK has moved to soften its stance to cement better ASEAN relations post-Brexit.
Sure to set the bar is the collaboration announced between the subsidiaries of two CPG giants to explore opportunities to create food products that will address the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
The world's largest food and beverage companies and their suppliers must do more to create an equitable and sustainable food system for all, says Oxfam.
