Chocolate

At what price? Chocolate industry cocoa sustainability efforts miss core of the problem: Extreme poverty. Photo Credit: Oxfam America

Cocoa Barometer 2015

Extreme poverty ignored in sustainable cocoa drive, say NGOs

By Oliver Nieburg

Chocolate manufacturers have made great strides in cocoa sustainability, but are fixated on boosting productivity and can do far more to ensure cocoa farmers receive a living income, according to a report by NGOs.

Fairtrade defends cocoa sourcing program to loyal customer Divine Chocolate

Divine Chocolate questions Fairtrade cocoa sourcing program

By Oliver Nieburg

Divine Chocolate says multinationals are escaping fuller Fairtrade commitments under the certification body’s new rules. But Fairtrade says its sourcing program is the only way to reach cocoa farmers at scale.

Cocoa prices shot up at the tail end of last year

Thorntons takes £7.7M hit as retailers reduce orders

By Rod Addy

Thorntons took a £7.7M hit to UK commercial sales in the first half of its financial year after two major accounts significantly reduced orders, although international sales partially offset the damage.

Bulcke said he expected results for 2015 to be similar

Nestlé profits jump despite slow growth

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Nestlé missed its growth estimate for 2014 and has forecast around 5% growth for 2015 – at the low end of its previous target of 5-6%.

Loading fatty foods with vitamins is misleading consumers, says BEUC

Industry creating 'health halos' by adding vitamins, says BEUC

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Adding in vitamins and minerals is one way the industry is getting around current health and nutrition regulation and creating a 'health halo' around otherwise unhealthy products, according to the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC).  

FDA finds some dark chocolate includes undeclared milk

FDA finds some dark chocolate includes undeclared milk

By Elizabeth Crawford

A new study revealing that a significant portion of dark chocolate products sold in the U.S. may contain undeclared milk could shake some consumers’ confidence in the industry in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day – one of the category’s most significant...

The average Briton eats over 150 chocolate bars a year, but is that cause for demonisation?

Caobisco ‘concerned’ about chocolate detox campaign

By Niamh Michail

Caobisco says it is ‘concerned’ about the British Heart Foundation’s ‘chocolate detox’ campaign, which encourages people to stop eating chocolate for a month to raise money and awareness for heart research.

Mondelēz: ‘Ultimately we will source all our cocoa from Cocoa Life'

Cocoa Life program update

Mondelēz: Deadlines on sustainable cocoa are not realistic

By Oliver Nieburg

Mondelēz International plans to eventually source its entire cocoa supply from its Cocoa Life sustainability program, but says setting deadlines won't lead to meaningful impact on the ground.

New Haven State representative Juan Candelaria proposes Connecticut candy & soda tax

Candy tax proposed in Connecticut

By Oliver Nieburg

A levy on high-calorie confectionery and soft drinks is being considered in Connecticut as a means to tackle childhood obesity.