Three new sustainability initiatives transforming the cocoa and sugar sectors
Are brands and organisations sweetening their climate conscious efforts to win over concerned consumers?
Commodities
Mondelēz International’s share earnings cut as cocoa costs predicted to rise
Hope for a cocoa price slump is dwindling as commodity analysts predict a price-boosting run on the brown stuff.
Mondelez’s SnackFutures Ventures invests in Celleste Bio to scale cell-culture cocoa production
Cocoa-tech startup Celleste Bio may soon produce the same amount of cocoa butter from just one to two beans as traditional production methods currently produce from four tons of cocoa pods, thanks in part to an infusion of $4.5 million in seed funding...
EUDR ‘no risk’ status cancelled and 12 month delay reconfirmed
The controversial EUDR no risk status has been provisionally binned in a ‘trilogue’ between the European Council, Commission and Parliament.
Is public-private sector collaboration vital to EUDR success?
Sustainable trade body urges industry-wide collaboration is key to unlocking the EUDR’s trove of environmental and economic mobility benefits.
Hershey says it’s not satisfied with efforts to support cocoa farmers
As the CPG reports on its income accelerator program, we dive into the detail of its initiative.
Can a cacao gene atlas help solve the cocoa crisis?
Mapping the genome of every cacao tree on the planet is the first step to developing elite high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties say researchers
How Nestlé increased cocoa yields by 32%
Discover how Nestlé's secret weapon is transforming cocoa farming, with an innovative approach to incentivising sustainable practices
New study confirms concerning heavy metal contamination in cocoa
Out of 72 cocoa items tested, 43% exceeded the maximum allowable dose level for lead, and 35% exceeded the level for cadmium. So what does this mean for beleaguered chocolate and cocoa producers?
Why cocoa farmers don’t earn a living income
Most cocoa farmers don’t earn a living income. Why not? And should they all?
Tate & Lyle buys CP Kelco in response to shifting consumer demand
Tate & Lyle was once a major player in sugar. Now, over a decade after it spun-off its sugar business, it's continuing to invest in sugar reduction technologies with the buyout of CP Kelco.
Could sugarcane super crop cut cost of sugar?
The cost of sugar has increased sharply in recent years. Now researchers believe gene editing could boost supplies. But how, and what does this mean for manufacturers?
How much progress has really been made on sustainable palm oil production?
As Ferrero is applauded for its efforts in sourcing sustainable palm oil, Greenpeace says the rest of the industry has a long way to go
How the Swiss make chocolate, but in bioreactors
Switzerland is one of the world’s biggest consumers of chocolate and coffee, and now it’s home to a company making both – in bioreactors.
Sugar reduction: Three learnings from growth markets
How do approaches to sugar reduction in growth markets differ from those in the rest of the world?
What can producers learn from Barry Callebaut’s €700 million funding?
Rising cocoa prices have spurred the global chocolatier to seek investment. But what does it mean for everyone else?
How commodity exchanges influence food prices, and why farmers don’t always benefit from price hikes
Commodity exchanges influence prices of key foods and ingredients on all levels of the supply chain. But how close is the link between the commodity exchange, and the commodity itself?
How Hershey became one of the world’s most ethical companies
Employing veterans, building schools and slashing packaging and emissions are just some of the ways the chocolate firm has earned its ESG credentials
Indirect cocoa supply chain challenges the effectiveness of EUDR
A new report sheds light on the urgent need to address critical environmental, poverty and child labour issues in cocoa, particularly those in indirect supply chains
Commodities
Volatile Cocoa prices see a surge in panic buying by chocolate industry
The extraordinary price rallies recorded in the cocoa futures markets have been accompanied by increasing volatility, with reports of panic buying in the US market.
Commodities
Cocoa prices 'bearish' after slump, with traders relying on algorithms to predict futures
After a topsy-turvy week, world cocoa prices recovered on Tuesday after registering losses of more than 20% the prior week, but the market is still struggling with a lull in trading.
When will the price of cocoa come down?
As cocoa prices continue to soar, we ask the question on every chocolate maker’s lips.
Sustainability
Barry Callebaut implements new cocoa farming initiative to improve sustainability
Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest chocolate supplier, has launched the Future Farming Initiative (FFI) to build a high-tech and sustainable cocoa farming business under the leadership of Steven Retzlaff.
Commodities
Uplift in Germany’s cocoa grindings – but rest of Europe struggles for beans
Cocoa grinding in Germany remained positive in the first quarter of 2024, the Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) reported, but the rest of Europe remains sluggish.
Chocolate
First Fairmade maker collaboration to showcase at UK show
The new Fairmade label has announced a collaboration at the Farm Shop & Deli show in Birmingham, England, to highlight a more equal business model for African products.
Cocoa feels the bite of climate change
Climate change will affect many industries, but few more than cocoa. While farmers on the ground struggle with fluctuating climatic conditions changing working practices, large companies grapple with environmental regulation.
Commodities
‘Cocoa has failed us,’ says Ghanaian farmer
A new video produced by the African Cocoa Marketplace (ACM) reveals the plight of cocoa farmers in West Africa who struggle to grow enough beans to earn a living.
Should vanilla production be stopped?
Vanilla is one of the most common flavours for sweet treats around the world. But is the farming of this much-loved spice sustainable? And, if not, should we be consuming it at all?
Commodities
Another week, another record high for cocoa prices
Market update: Analysts have described the upward trajectory of cocoa prices as ‘parabolic’ as cocoa futures rose another 2.7% to a new record of $10,760 a ton in New York on Monday (15 April) before falling back to £10,000 a ton after the dollar index...
Chocolate prices expected to climb as industry relays cocoa burden
Cocoa supplier Barry Callebaut is passing on soaring costs to its customers, and predicts manufacturers will do the same.
Special report
Global cocoa shortage puts pressure on suppliers and manufacturers
While there is no indication the world is not about to run out of chocolate any day soon, there are concerns from manufacturers and suppliers that the current high prices and shortage of cocoa beans will push up costs further and, in some cases, restrict...
Deforestation unrest: EU policy implementation hangs in the balance after industry pushback
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is facing major pushback from ministers and trade organisations within Europe, alongside continued pressure from palm oil producer nations in Asia, casting doubt on hopes for a smooth implementation.
Commodites
Ghana poised to raise its cocoa farmgate price
Ghana will follow Cote d’Ivoire and raise the fixed farmgate price paid to cocoa farmers by up to 50%. The announcement could be made as early as the end of this week, ConfectioneryNews understands.
New cocoa marketplace aims to strengthen relationships between producers and buyers
A new platform aims to create a stronger relationship between cocoa farmers and producer organisations, and those who buy their cocoa.
Commodities
Cote d’Ivoire raises cocoa farmgate price by 50% after producers threaten strike action
Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara has personally authorized the increase of the cocoa farmgate price to 1,500 CFA francs ($2.47) per kg from the current 1,000 CFA in an official announcement made today (Tuesday, 2 April) in Abidjan.
Commodities
Future of cocoa under threat as prices skyrocket due to bean shortages
UPDATE: TUESDAY 26 MARCH 2024: Cocoa prices continued to rise this week. Earlier today the price of cocoa beans smashed through the $10,000 a ton for the first time in the futures market after posting gains all week - with chocolate makers passing on the...
SOTIC 2024
Downs: US confectionery is robust enough to survive and thrive
Confectionery’s resilience in the face of global inflationary pressures and the rising costs of raw materials has lifted John Downs, the National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) president and CEO, who said he is confident the category is in excellent...
Sustainabilty
New trading platform for African cocoa puts farmers at centre of procurement
The influential and respected cocoa consultant Dr Kristy Leissle has launched a new marketing company that puts cocoa farmers’ perspectives at the centre of the procurement process so they can share in revenue from the sale of their beans.
Special report: Ghana’s cocoa crisis
Disease, climate change and industry indifference at root of threat to cocoa supplies
Cocoa production in Ghana has been falling off the cliff since posting a record 1.047 million metric tonnes (MT) at the close of the 2020-21 season. A multiplicity of factors account for the downward trend in production, including a prolonged El-Niño...
UK: Arla, Müller, Wyke and more increase farmgate milk prices
The start of 2024 has been marked by steady milk price increases in the UK after a year of reductions.
Commodities
ICCO predicts 11% drop in global cocoa output, after El Niño effect
The El Niño weather phenomenon, which hit the west coast of Africa last year, carrying unseasonal heavy rains followed by dry heat, is the main factor in an 11% drop in the season’s main cocoa harvest, according to the latest figures from the...
Financial results
Olam Group shares rally as ofi delivers solid earnings growth
Agribusiness group Olam has reported a significant improvement in its second-half full-year results and says London listings for ingredients supplier subsidiary ofi is still planned.
Markets
ICCO urges major rethink as cocoa futures hit another record high
Cocoa futures in London and New York rose to fresh record highs on trading platform ICE on Monday this week as increasing concern about supply shortages in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, the world's top two producers, left buyers scrambling for beans from...
Amsterdam Cocoa Week
Are we entering an age of ‘responsible procurement’ in the cocoa sector?
Procurement came under the spotlight at Chocoa’s recent Amsterdam Sustainable Cocoa Conference when it convened a panel of specialists to discuss why the practice is not just about buying beans - transactions should go a lot deeper in the value chain and...
News
Chocolate prices likely to remain at a record high for 2024
A report from ingredients supplier Henley Bridge has warned that cocoa price increases of 15-20% for the first half of 2024 might continue into the second half of the year.
Commodities
Eye-watering cocoa prices put a damper on Valentine’s Day chocolate
Love may be in the air this Valentine's Day – but so is the eye-watering price of cocoa on the market, making the cost of the key ingredient in chocolate more expensive than ever, according to analysts.
WCF Partnership Meeting 2024
World Cocoa Foundation brings a clear strategy and fresh approach to reforming the chocolate industry
In his opening remarks at this year’s World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Amsterdam, Chris Vincent, president of the WCF, said this year's conference theme, ‘aligning for global action,’ underscores the critical interconnectedness between...
Special report
How one organic cocoa cooperative in the Dominican Republic is outstripping the market
With its link between Europe, North America, and the rest of Latin America, the tiny country on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola is set to be a significant player for premium cocoa as demand soars due to a global shortage of beans.
Appointments
ofi appoints new chief sustainability officer
Leading commodities supplier ofi has announced Roel van Poppel as its chief sustainability officer (CSO), taking responsibility for scaling the group’s ability to drive positive impact across its five leading product platforms - cocoa, coffee, dairy,...
Tate & Lyle hits the sweet spot
Ingredient solutions firm Tate & Lyle continues to build its sweetener portfolio as consumers shift from full-sugar to reduced-sugar offerings.