Balance the challenge
The Confectionery Production team is preparing to attend Chocovision 2012 next week. The event takes place 5-7 June in Davos, Switzerland. This is the first in a series of international bi-annual conferences for senior business leaders around the world and key stakeholders in the cocoa, chocolate and retail industry.
Confectionery Production is the only UK media partner for this event. “The collaboration with Confectionery Production – our media partner for Chocovision 2012 – has contributed substantially to the success of the international conference on the future of the cocoa and chocolate industry organised by Barry Callebaut,” says Jörn Wagenbach, head of corporate communications & CSR at Barry Callebaut.
The goal of the event is to bring key stakeholders together to explore and initiate new approaches and solutions for securing a sustainable, successful chocolate future.
The conference aims to provide a neutral platform for informed debate between business and politics, NGO’s and scientists, suppliers, farmers and consumers – all stakeholders involved in the value chain from cocoa bean to chocolate bar.
The conference programme will be structured around these three themes:
1. Strategy: drivers and directions
Consumer behaviour and trends are decisive for future success in the marketplace. How are the global consumer markets developing, what is the next big thing? What are the chocolate consumption markets of the future? What are consumers’ expectations and taste preferences? What impact will demographic changes and health regulations have on (chocolate) eating habits? What is the outlook for demand given current growth rates of GDP and population? What is the role of prices? Where is the fair value for cocoa?
2. Sustainability: joining forces to close the gap
While global demand for chocolate continues to increase, the supply of cocoa does not seem to be able to grow at the same rate, as a result of several social, environmental and sustainability issues. How could cooperation between industry, NGOs and farmers be improved to achieve more impact for the benefit of all?
3. Success: proven progress (case studies)
Chocolate began to globalise at the turn of the millennium, moving increasingly to emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, China, India and Turkey. Case studies will explore how challenges can be turned into opportunities. For example, what is the winning formula to satisfy consumers in these new chocolate markets? How can innovation help reduce obesity while satisfying consumers’ love for snacking; or to respond to rising material prices? What are the positive health aspects of cocoa?
Besides these three conference sessions, there will be high profile keynote addresses by world renowned musician and political activist Sir Bob Geldof and Nobel Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. They will contribute to the inspirational atmosphere the organiser hopes to create.
To view the conference programme or to register online, please visit www.chocovision.ch.
