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 new study published in IOP Publishing’s journal Environmental Research Letters into the transparency and traceability of cocoa supply chains in Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer, claims that less than 45% of cocoa from the country can...
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.
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.
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...
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’.
From breeding carrots with greater color intensity to using filtration to increase dry matter content in fruit concentrates before deploying energy-intensive evaporation techniques, coloring foodstuffs specialist GNT is exploring a multi-pronged approach...
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.
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...
Colombian B4B chocolate manufacturer, Luker Chocolate, announces the addition of a Single Origin Ecuador 72% dark chocolate couverture to its Selected Origins line.
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.
The Italian city of Venice has a long and interesting history dating back to the 5th century. Venetian merchants traded across the globe and were famous for making sails, ropes, ordinance, glassware, carnival masks – but never chocolate. So why did Barry...
Cocoa supplier Touton’s Sustainability Report 2021-22 has highlighted the French headquartered company’s long-term commitment to a transparent supply chain.
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.
Mondelēz International has announced net revenues grew 8.1% year-on-year in the third quarter this year, driven by stronger pricing and volume. The Chicago-headquartered company also raised its full-year results forecasts and announced more price hikes...
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...
Mondelēz International has announced the next phase of its Cocoa Life programme will be backed by an additional $600 million - bringing its total investment to $1 billion by end of the decade.
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.
