Exclusive: Caobisco sets out major five-year confectionery sector manifesto
Muriel Korter, director general of Caobisco speaking at the previous Brussels edition of the World Confectionery Conference, which returns to the city this September.
The Caobisco European confectionery organisation has laid out an ambitious manifesto for the next five years, placing sustainable sourcing and promotion of proactive and transparent trade at its core, reports Neill Barston.
As reported recently, the key industry body, representing a total of 14,000 businesses across sweets, snacks and chocolate markets, is set to play its part in our World Confectionery Conference on 12 September, with its president, Can Buharali of Mondelez opening our event.
Among the core goals of its manifesto, the organisation said that it will be seeking the EU to deliver solid bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that foster the import of key raw materials and inputs and export high added value product ranges. `
Perhaps most notably, the upcoming EUDR deforestation and due diligence compliance laws remain high on the radar of many larger companies, with Caobisco welcoming their broad principles in delivering sustainable supply chains that place enhanced human rights and environmental protection measures at the top of the agenda.
However, as Confectionery Production has reported, it has recently written to the EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, urging that concerns over the timing and implementation procedures are addressed as a priority.
Moreover, in broader global terms, the trade body is also seeking delivery of developing common rules and a level playing field on a global level – especially in light of significant ongoing challenges of sugar supply deficits within Europe, as well as the ongoing high price of critical cocoa crops that had traded at elevated prices of around $10,000 earlier this summer, and are still around $8,000 a tonne on Futures markets.
Significantly, even the latter figure representing prices this week is still well over double prices of just 18 months ago, placing pressure on many manufacturers, who have already grappled with high energy prices, as well as market turbulence impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as logistics issues stemming from conflict in Gaza that has caused notable business disruption within the region.
Developing international deals
As Caobisco noted, it highlighted the need for resolution of major trading deals with third countries, including long-term plans for a deal with Mercosur South American nations, as well as agreements with Thailand, Australia, as well as with Ukraine being noted as particularly significant for EU nations.
Furthermore, while Caobisco’s members include major manufacturers, a total of 99% of its membership consists of small and medium-sized enterprises, which it believed had an extremely strong part to play in the future development of the wider industry, ensuring that the quality and variety of products within the sector is maintained.
As its manifesto highlights, presently the European sector it represents involves a total of 280,470 direct employees across more than 14,000 companies operating with a combined turnover of €59 billion, with imports of €3 billion and exports amounting to over €15 billion.
In addition, the group asserted that preferential rules of origin need to be created for European goods, with changes in regulations required so that exporters and the European economy – can benefit from preferential trade agreements.
As it noted, at present, a requirement that at least 40% of the weight of a product be comprised of European-origin sugar
prevents the export of products in which the vast majority of added value is European. The burden of proof is rarely
economically viable.
In its view, the EU should take inspiration from EU and Swiss approaches to rules of origin, with creativity and value-added production being considered to be far more important than the origin of a single ingredient.
Moreover, in addition to placing an enhanced focus on sustainable sourcing, Caobisco’s manifesto also calls for improvements to governance surrounding the industry.
“Encourage mutual respect and understanding between political, scientific, civil society and business communities, and
listening to all stakeholder views and assessing the facts is essential,” noted its manifesto report, which also asserted that engaging in more transparent, ‘bottom-up’ policymaking was of vital importance in order to include as broad a range of stakeholders in major policy decision making as possible
In terms of health agendas, the organisation has previously championed its ‘Treatwell’ campaign promoting responsible enjoyment of confectionery and snacks, with the group maintaining that it is important that the industry’s place within overall diets of consumers should be carefully considered. “Responsible production goes with mindful consumption,” noted the manifesto
Muriel Korter, director general for Caobisco believed the manifesto served as a strong indication of its intent moving forward in representing the European sector.
She said: “Our vision and ambition for the long term is in striving for a strong and successful Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industry, respected by stakeholders with products enjoyed by consumers as part of a balanced diet.
“Our mission is to ensure the freedom to operate for the European Confectionery Industry alongside of being a trusted and vocal voice towards EU policy makers on strategic key priorities, such as competitiveness in the EU and on the world market, responsible and greener businesses, informed consumers and a scientific-based regulatory framework.”
