Blogs
Greater progress required on key schemes to lift African cocoa farmers from below poverty line
Edward Akapire (below), head of region, Fairtrade Africa West Africa Network, reflects his observations on the key improvements that need to be made within the cocoa sector that will deliver on the progress being made by farming reforms in Ghana and Ivory Coast It is 6.00am in Divo in the heart of Côte d’Ivoire in […]
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
Two metre rule for social distancing is costing industry severely
The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on all aspects of our lives, including business conditions. Our guest blogger this week, Natalka Antoniuk, of Quadrant2Design, shares her view on the two-metre social distancing rules.
Savvy internet retailers reveal growth in online sales amid pandemic market conditions
There is no getting away from the fact that internet retailing across a number of food market segments, including confectionery, has shown a notable upturn during the past financial quarter.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Sustainability
Olam marks World Environment Day with measures to enhance its operations
The UN-backed World Environment Day is celebrated today (June 5) each year as a means of driving engagement on protecting the environment. This includes key issues relating to the cocoa and confectionery sector, including deforestation and climate change. Chris Brown, Vice President and Global Head of Environment, Olam International, offers his view on progress being made
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability
Coronavirus pandemic may increase child labour, but a path to child-labour free cocoa exists
Child labour within the cocoa sector remains a key matter for the confectionery sector, with around 2 million children in Ghana and Ivory Coast alone said to be in some form of labour, despite the sector’s efforts to respond on the issue. In this guest blog Kunera Moore, Lead – tackling child labour at the Rainforest Alliance, offers some hope on this major issue
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Regulatory, Sustainability
Call for extending trade negotiations amid pandemic makes sound business sense
Without doubt one of the most significant news stories of the past week has been the plea from the Caobisco European confectionery organisation for the EU and UK to continue crucial trade talks beyond the fast-approaching cut-off point of December 2020.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Regulatory, Sustainability
Fairtrade report highlights urgent need for joint industry action on sustainability schemes
The latest set of studies from Fairtrade released this week into sustainability initiatives in core cocoa growing locations including Ghana and Ivory Coast have produced some extremely notable findings.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Sustainability
Potential chocolate breakthrough for Mars could offer a key boost to African confectionery
The decision by Mars to place a patent for a new chocolate series that has a higher melting point is extremely interesting on a number of levels.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability
Confectionery and cocoa sectors continue efforts to support communities through coronavirus
With latest production deadlines looming, this week’s blog will be a short one from myself, just simply to re-emphasise that it has been particularly notable to see how the confectionery industry around the world is doing its bit to give back to those less fortunate during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cadbury’s key rebrand aims to maintain its confectionery superstar status
The business of company branding is an exceptionally valuable asset that cannot be underestimated in terms of how consumers perceive a product, so whenever change comes to a major enterprise, you can be sure plenty of thought has gone into its potential impact.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, New products, Packaging, Sustainability
Tony’s Chocolonely is not so lonely anymore in its global mission for slave free chocolate
With physical meetings all but impossible around the world owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it’s good to see businesses staging some strong topical food for thought online, including Tony’s Chocolonely’s latest webinar presentation. As we have previously reported, the company’s core mission of striving to help the chocolate sector achieve 100% slave free production […]
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability
Virtual reality brings an added perspective for business continuity
Evaluating the full global impact of the present coronavirus outbreak will take some considerable period to fully establish, as it continues to affect every aspect of our lives over the coming weeks, and probably months ahead.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, New products, Packaging, Processing, Sustainability
Giving back in challenging times can make a real difference
Giving back in times of need is a commendable outlook and amid this global pandemic of coronavirus, it has been heartening to see some key examples of people doing something for their communities.
Decline in cocoa prices raises concerns over farmers’ future within the sector
Amid the all-consuming maelstrom that is the coronavirus pandemic, there are numerous other world events that have simply been parked or placed to one side amid the immediate health crisis.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability