The review, developed in partnership with the Swiss Cocoa Platform and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), examines evidence of the impact of unexpected shocks that either increased or decreased incomes, as well as the effects of...
Fresh initiative backed by the Ivorian government and chocolate industry aims to jointly tackle root causes of child labor and improve education standards in West African country.
‘Choco-Evangelist’ Ynzo van Zanten delivered an upbeat session during a livestream on YouTube answering questions about the brand's mission, its history, problems in the cocoa industry, and the secret to how Tony's makes its premium and ethical...
Fairtrade International has announced sales of Fairtrade certified cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased farmers’ earnings by approximately $15.1m compared to non-Fairtrade cocoa.
Brands that make many of our favorite Easter treats, are mobilizing to help fight the COVID-19 virus in cocoa farming communities and are staying focused on continued investment in the long-term to provide them with sustainable livelihoods.
Swiss cocoa supplier says it is complying with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and government directives on COVID-19, as watchdog releases a COVID-19 response for Cocoa Farmers.
To truly understand and implement an effective sustainability initiative, it’s critical to evaluate the social, environmental and economic impacts of production.
Cacao beans have been consumed by humans for over 3,000 years and the ingredient is well-known for its wide range of health benefits, recent research suggests it can provide stronger protection against influenza virus infection.
Brenntag Food & Nutrition, UK & Ireland has been appointed sole distribution partner for Cargill’s industrial cocoa and chocolate portfolio, it has announced.
The Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) is a commitment made by the world’s largest cocoa producing countries - Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana - civil society and leading chocolate companies to end deforestation and restore forests. Like many other big cocoa...
Addressing deforestation linked to cocoa is part of Nestlé's ambition to transform its agricultural supply chain, making it more climate-friendly and resilient, the company said in its new Cocoa & Forests Initiative report that highlights key...
Cocoa and chocolate in the Asia Pacific is in a state of ‘regional imbalance’, according to chocolate giant Mars, which has also revealed how it plans to use sustainability as a means to tackle challenges in Asia.
Organizers Barry Callebaut release statement postponing this year’s event that was due to be held in Davos, Switzerland, with plans to reschedule in June 2021.
Cocoa has a natural and familiar flavor,and has a huge role to play in meeting the consumer demand for natural flavors and colors … Just take a look at the shelves of your local supermarket.
‘During risk-off periods in markets, the prices of all products tend to move lower. When price carnage hits markets, rationality takes a holiday,’ said analyst Andrew Hecht.
The European Union (EU) is the world’s largest importer of cocoa and cocoa products, and the EU Commission is considering European-wide action to reduce the impact on several sustainability issues, primarily child labor and deforestation
Cocoa production continues to drive deforestation. While the chocolate industry has largely lined up behind zero deforestation commitments, the complexities of indirect supply chains remain a significant challenge.
President and CEO plays the straight man this time as he sets out the organization’s agenda for the next five years and promises to act on cocoa sustainability, look at the issues around the CBD trend and maintain the confectionery industry’s image as...
Fairtrade Fortnight continues with nationwide engagement that tells true stories of two female cocoa farmers who are fighting back against exploitation, poverty wages and climate change in cocoa communities in West Africa.
Goal is to accelerate sustainability improvement in cocoa through certification, 33-year-old organization said, as it announced a major upgrade to its monitoring of the cocoa industry.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is rolling out a new Nutrition Facts label that shines a spotlight on ‘Added Sugars’ to help Americans cut back on the amount they consume, while on the other side of the pond, the UK’s sugar tax is producing...
Mars Wrigley has announced a $10m investment to support women’s empowerment in cocoa-growing communities, working with CARE to build on the success and learnings of their Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) initiative.
New data shows women could be struggling on just 23p (29c) a day, well below the extreme poverty line of £1.40 ($1.81) and organisation calls on government and chocolate companies to join the Alliance on Living Incomes in Cocoa, a new international initiative.
Washington Post reports on action from human rights group to petition US government to ban cocoa imports from the West African country because of child labor and trafficking concerns.
Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA) has announced the postponement of its International Cocoa Conference, due to be held in Singapore on 26 to 27 March due to the global coronavirus epidemic.
The Chocoa Conference, held annually in Amsterdam for the past eight years, has gained a strong reputation for providing a platform for detailed discussions on sustainability and quality in the cocoa sector, ConfectioneryNews speaks to Jack Steijn, co-founder,...
Malaysian cocoa firm Vive Snack is banking on a strong local focus to further expand its reach in the domestic market, with an emphasis on its use of local ingredients and new product innovations.
Fairtrade International pioneers unique and effective program to address child labor in farming communities. Anita Sheth, senior advisor social compliance and development, Fairtrade International, explains an ongoing program in Belize to empower local...
Divine Chocolate was established in 1998 by a co-operative of cocoa farmers in Ghana that owns 44% of the company and shares in its profit. Its cocoa is Fairtrade certified and 100% traceable.
'I am a cocoa farmer' is an occasional series by Dr Kristy Leissle, scholar of the cocoa and chocolate industries. Here she visits Bahati Sanjingu, a cocoa farmer in Tanzania, and hears how she made the transition from growing rice to cocoa...
Mars Incorporated has announced it has engaged Nature Source Improved Plants (NSIP) in a collaborative project to enable its cocoa supply chain to become more sustainable in the future.
November was ‘a bullish month for the cocoa futures market as the price hit its highest level in 2019 and the highest since May 2018, said analyst Andrew Hecht, author of the Hecht Commodity Report.
From 100% recyclable packaging by Nestlé to a personal account of the life of a cocoa farmer in Ghana, and let's not forget NCA boss John Downs rocking Boca! Here is our rundown of some of our best read stories of 2019.
Coffee and cocoa farmers often grow avocado and mango as part of sustainable agroforestry systems - but these are vulnerable to climate change and should be swapped for more resilient crops, according to a recent study.
Swiss confectionery giant claims it is investing $45m a year in its sustainability program and making progress tackling child labor in its cocoa supply chain in West Africa.
From blockchain to crop monitoring with drones, smallholder cocoa producers in Honduras are digitizing their production thanks to a project led by the Inter-American Development Bank.
Fair trade standards should become watchdogs instead of the benchmark for sustainability, argues the recently appointed head of sustainable commodities NGO Solidaridad.
Mission-led chocolate brands promoting a cocoa province can not only generate consumer engagement, but help deprived producing communities that need it most, according to a sustainability analyst.
Cargill says it is investing over $113m to expand its cocoa processing sites in Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Tema, Ghana – while increasing its ‘Cocoa Promise’ in the two countries.
Natural ingredients take centre stage at this year’s Fi Europe, the annual, and world's largest, gathering of ingredient buyers and decision makers in the food industry.
In the second of a series of articles on Barry Callebaut’s operations in Ghana we look at the company’s carbon reduction strategy in West Africa – as the group announced that it is contributing to the collective efforts of climate change to cap global...
Cocoa companies, NGOs and Fairtrade issue joint statement for human rights and environmental due diligence requirements to be urgently imposed by European Union.
Paul Schoenmakers, head of impact and the person driving Tony’s Chocolonely’s sustainability programme, talks exclusively to ConfectioneryNews on business growth, legislation and doing the right thing in the cocoa sector.
The American baking industry will not experience a sugar shortage – despite severe weather conditions that have battered the country’s sugar-producing regions – as the US Department of Commerce has increased the quota of imported refined sugar from Mexico.
