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.
Nestlé has claimed it has completed the majority of its public commitments with the release of its 2020 Creating Shared Value (CSV) and Sustainability Report.
The annual Easter Scorecard, published by Be Slavery Free, Green America, Inkota, Mighty Earth, and National Wildlife Federation, which surveys chocolate companies and cocoa suppliers, reveals many of the chocolate manufacturers and retailers are still...
Confectionery category shows resiliency during pandemic with $36.7bn in sales, but sustainability issues are low on the trends impacting purchasing patterns with American shoppers.
Less than a year after taking the helm at Clif Bar & Co., new CEO Sally Grimes is spearheading the company’s first transformation in 30 years with an ambitious goal to double its business to $2 billion and double its positive impact on the world....
Tony’s Chocolonely has alleged that some of the industry’s big chocolate makers have put pressure on UK supermarkets to remove the Dutch company’s ‘Sweet Solution’ bars because “they didn’t want to be associated with the claims of illegal labour in the...
Dutch ethical brand Tony’s Chocolonely is inviting international chocolate makers to join its transparent supply chain platform in order to create a more sustainable cocoa industry.
When it comes to cocoa and chocolate, sustainability is taking on increased importance, influencing consumers’ purchase decisions and their perceptions of the brands they buy, new research from Cargill finds.
As the pandemic continues to upend life, the products that will stand out next year will be those that address the consumer’s need for comfort, immunity and mental health, according to Saage Insights 2021 Trend Report.
After two decades of failed interventions across the cocoa sector, cocoa farming communities are still battling the effects of poverty, child labour and deforestation, the new report highlights.
Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have carried out their threat to cancel Hershey’s cocoa sustainability schemes in their countries, accusing the US giant of trying to avoid paying the cocoa Living Income Differential (LID) premium aimed at combating farmer poverty...
Kerry Taste & Nutrition has released a white paper that provides snack producers with the most advanced research information to guide their development of protein bars.
Ingredients provider ADM has forecast the Top 5 Global Trends that will transform the way consumers snack in the new year, while viennoiserie supplier Délifrance delves into the indulgent sphere.
Mars Wrigley has strengthened its commitment to protecting children in at-risk regions of the cocoa sector with the release of its 2020 Cocoa for Generations report detailing progress on its journey toward creating a modern, inclusive and sustainable...
Three of the top international cocoa companies - Barry-Callebaut, Ritter Sport and Valrhona - have been awarded a sustainability ‘Oscar’ at the Hallbars’ recent ceremony in Sweden.
Quinn – which was founded by a woman on the credo of social commitments and natural ingredients – has closed additional Series D funding, including an undisclosed minority investment from the confectionery giant.
The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, a multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together Swiss-based chocolate manufacturers, cocoa traders and importers, food retailers, the public sector, non-governmental organizations and research institutes, has...
Long-awaited US government-funded report from National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC) that assesses progress in reducing child labour in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana’s cocoa regions shows figures are lower than previously thought...
The Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) has called for a uniform European approach to supply chain standards saying that in some countries where raw materials are imported from, human rights are still not being observed, even...
The Sustainable Cocoa Initiative is a new multi-stakeholder dialogue that brings together representatives of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana – the two main cocoa producing countries accounting for 70% of global cocoa production – as well as representatives...
