Cargill has unveiled its new 6,200-square-metre House of Chocolate at its Mouscron site in Belgium, which will include a state-of-the-art chocolate experience centre, a unique pilot plant with sensory expertise, and creative workspace for the company’s...
Early-bird rates for the European Cocoa Association Forum in September are available until 31 May. The two-day conference will feature high-level speakers from the EU institutions, cocoa producer countries and various other key players of the sector.
Nigeria’s cocoa sector has renewed its efforts to join the Living Income Differential (LID) set up by neighbouring Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to protect their farmers by increasing income.
The Oreo and Cadbury owner has published its 2021 Snacking Made Right Report, which highlights progress against its short- and long-term ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals.
Peru is the world's ninth largest cocoa producer (roughly 71,175 tons a year) and the world’s largest organic cocoa producer, and it is now on a mission to develop a deforestation-free supply chain by 2025, making it ready for new European market...
Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa has secured two major investments to scale up its impact in the cocoa sector by successfully completing its Series A round raising a total of $4.7 million in equity – and a $3.5 million investment from climate adaptation and...
UK start-up WNWN Food Labs is launching what it claims to be the ‘world’s first’ cacao-free chocolate. Made from two ‘hero ingredients’ – barley and carob – we ask co-founders Arhum Pak and Dr Johnny Drain what makes their product better than the real...
The Rainforest Alliance, CDP, Clarmondial, Conservation International, and USAID announce a transformational public-private ‘Business Case’ partnership to reduce cocoa and other commodity-driven deforestation, and contribute to global climate and biodiversity...
Olam food ingredients (ofi) is one of the world’s largest cocoa bean suppliers with a leading presence in 10 key producing countries across Africa, Asia and South America. It has published its 2021 Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) Report to share...
The Fairtrade Foundation has released a new report revealing key insights into factors it says can “either enable or jeopardise the ability of cocoa co-operatives to create and fairly distribute positive benefits to their farmer members.”
From thaumatin to brazzein, we’ve been told for years that ultra-sweet proteins found in tiny quantities in some fruits could be the next big thing in natural sweeteners, if we can just find a way to produce them more cost effectively from microbial hosts....
A ‘milestone’ study has been published supporting the link between flavanol consumption and cardiovascular health. FoodNavigator speaks to Mars Edge’s science and nutrition director Catherine Kwik-Uribe about the implications of this ‘landmark moment’...
Divine Chocolate, the only Fairtrade and B Corp certified chocolate company to be co-owned by cocoa farmers, has said it has strengthened farmer empowerment initiatives and has joined multi-stakeholder Agroforestry project with HALBA in Switzerland.
The World Cocoa Conference has been postponed for the third time after organisers International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) cited uncertainties of holding a global gathering in Bali with the potential of more travel restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19...
Mars Incorporated has announced two ‘groundbreaking’ programmes in a new effort by a major chocolate company to improve the livelihoods of smallholder cocoa farmers.
Two influential Washington-based organisations from the cocoa and confectionery industry have called for more stringent regulations in the cocoa supply chain regarding forest conservation.
Fairtrade International has announced Sandra Uwera will become its new Global CEO following the departure of Dr Nyagoy Nyong’o, who served as Interim Global CEO until last month.
Call for UK government to publish its long-awaited Sugar Reduction Progress Report and announce new, tougher, comprehensive, regulatory measures to incentivise the industry to reduce sugar.
Colombian cocoa supplier Luker Chocolate has announced it has joined the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent), a global business network of more than 200 major companies around the world committed to supporting refugees, including by hiring and training...
Blommer Chocolate, the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America, has announced Carolin Fesenberg will become its new Director of Cocoa Sustainability.
A California federal judge has refused to grant a motion to dismiss a proposed class action accusing Nestlé USA of allegedly deceptively marketing its chocolate products as sustainably sourced despite obtaining cocoa from farms reliant on child slave...
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.
The manufacturing side of the German confectionery industry is facing its worse crisis in 70 years and could grind to a halt as it struggles with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and an impending gas shortage caused by the Russian invasion of...
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has announced the opening of registrations for its European Cocoa Forum, which takes place from 13 to 15 September 2022 in Rome.
ConfectioneryNews talked to Jose Puyana, ProColombia's Regional Director for Europe, ahead of a Trade Mission to the UK (31 March to 3 April) to attend the London Coffee Festival, where cocoa producers will be also in attendance.
With just 19% of countries in the WHO European Region having introduced SSB taxes, a new study has sought to identify what works and what doesn’t – to encourage effective implementation.
The Swiss-Ghanaian start-up, best known for its upcycling of cocoa side streams, has partnered with seedtrace and MTN Group to ‘disrupt transparency standards’ in cocoa.
MIA, short for Made in Africa, is branching out from its base in Madagascar to work with cocoa farmers in West Africa. Co-founder Brett Beach tells ConfectioneryNews the reasons behind the move – and also provides an update on the situation on the island...
Ethical British chocolate company Love Cocoa has extended its Easter offering with a new Luxury Giant Milk Chocolate Egg and a Luxury Half & Half Egg, both containing the brand’s signature Salted Caramel Truffles.
The Cocoa Coalition has broadly welcomed the European Commission's proposed Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, saying 'we regard it as a genuinely ground-breaking legislative proposal'.
In its Annual Report for 2021, Nestlé said it has the ability to deliver and scale meaningful innovations that meet changing consumer tastes, respond to the growing interest worldwide in nutritional health solutions and contribute to sustainability.
CARE, a leading humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty with a focus on working alongside women and girls, has announced a new initiative to help transform cocoa growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire.
In a row over the impending European Commission’s deforestation law, African smallholder cocoa farmers say European organisations do not speak on their behalf and claim their proposal risks damaging their livelihoods.
Singapore-based Olam, OFI’s parent company, said it is tracking global markets following Russia's invasion of Ukraine this week to determine the potential impact on the timing.
The Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) said it welcomes the latest developments from the EU Commission and its proposals for a European supply chain law.
Brazil’s cocoa beans production continues its upward curve with the latest figures released this month showing grindings have already increased up to 5% in 2022.
The recent global weather events has highlighted the real threat of climate change. In a special podcast Michael Gidney, CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, tells consumers about the impact of the climate crisis on its network of farmers and what they can...
A cash transfer programme implemented by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), in partnership with ECOM, has reduced child labour in cocoa-growing households and helped them to cope during difficult times, according to recent research.
The Annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, which kicks off on Monday 21 February, is set to highlight the impact of the climate crisis on cocoa and other commodities – as well as renewing its call for fairer incomes for farmers.
Malaysian cocoa supplier Guan Chong Berhad (GCB) has announced plans to open a new world-class manufacturing site in the UK through its subsidiary GCB Cocoa UK.
A new report from global advocacy organisation Mighty Earth claims that since the high-profile launch of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI), Africa’s top cocoa-producing nations continue to see huge areas of forest being destroyed to make room for...
Cocoa production in key West African countries dropped significantly at the end of 2021, according to the latest figures from the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO).
