ofi unveils ambitious deZaan fine flavour cocoa liquor series at ISM 2026

A dynamic trio of single origin, fine flavour cocoa liquors from ofi’s flagship deZaan brand has been successfully launched at this year’s ISM event in Cologne, as it aims to push commercial scaling boundaries within the segment, reports Neill Barston.

Confectionery Production was on hand at last week’s key global sweets and snacks event, which also offered a major new platform under its newly-positioned ingredients show component. 

Notably, ofi’s (olam Food Ingredients) ambitious line-up of new offerings hails from Uganda, Papua New Guinea: and the Dominican Republic, which all deliver unique flavour profiles that can now reportedly be forged at a level that the sector has previously been unable to facilities.

ofi’s latest series launched at ISM. Pic: ofi

Furthermore, the company said it had gained strong feedback from a global base of visitors for its latest series, which has been created in response to a resilient performance from the fine flavour chocolate sector.  The company joined some 1,600 exhibitors at this year’s ISM event (see our exclusive video review below).

In addition, as ofi noted, studies from Grand View Research, have rated the global premium chocolate market now being worth some $32.9 billion, which is set to rise to $40 billion by the end of the decade.  As part of this, findings revealed consumers are seemingly willing to pay more for luxury experiences within the sector. 

However, the picture remains mixed across global markets, with uncertain economic conditions in many international territories placing pressure on some higher-end luxury markets, as consumers demonstrate buying caution in certain locations, including within the US.

Moreover, as ofi asserted, research has revealed that many fine flavour chocolate fans are bucking that trend in being willing to pay more for distinctive or unique flavours.

In addition, as the company acknowledges, many manufacturers have struggled to replicate fine flavour precision at mass scale, without compromising on quality or consistency. 

With carefully selected beans, shaped by tailored fermentation and individual roasting profiles developed specifically for these origins, the new cocoa liquors give chocolate product makers the quality, flavour and reliability that consumers desire.

As the business noted, it has taken inspiration from the world of coffee and small-scale chocolatiers, batch roasting allows precise control over flavour development. Its latest series has used proprietary knowledge of cocoa developed in its Koog aan de Zaan facility in the Netherlands, which Confectionery Production has previously had the privilege of exploring shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Global Head of Cocoa Liquor, Simon Brayn-Smith welcomed the new series, which he believed would hold strong potential to develop at a far large scale than had previously ever been possible before. 

He commented: “By combining our origination experience, precise fermentation controls and developing specific roasting profiles, each of our new deZaan single-origin distinct cocoa liquors are redefining what’s possible for premium chocolate product makers; and helping brands create opportunities for differentiation to deliver the flavour experience consumers crave.” 

Launching this new range are three distinct cocoa liquors, with each origin carefully selected for its unique terroir and sensory potential. They have been identified through origination expertise, and scientific flavour and sensory mapping by ofi’s cocoa experts.

As the company stated, the three differing locations have been chosen for their distinct characteristics, with the Dominican Republic’s terroir offering rich volcanic soils, delivering slow ripening cocoa. 

Meanwhile, the high altitude farms of Uganda have produced  a fruity profile, with notes of berry, tropical fruit and citrus, alongside overripe tones and hints of dried fruit. Finally, Papua New Guinea has also been famed for its volcanic soils, with cocoa from the region producing  nutty and woody tones, complemented by notes of tropical and dried fruit, for a medium roast that has low acidity and astringency.

positive ISM reception
Speaking to our title at this year’s ISM, Irene Ter Laak, head of ingredients excellence centre, global cocoa, enthused that there was much excitement about the release from within the business.

With over a century of heritage to its name, the business has access to advanced R&D facilities at its European sites, as well as locations around the world, which will drive its latest offering. 

“One of the personal goals I set was to launch one new product a year, and ISM has been a special occasion as I have brought the whole R&D team to the event for the launch of three new cocoa liquors here. We also thought, what should be the first new ingredient launch that really resonated with the core of Ofi,” explained Irene.

She added: “One of the strategic angles was in looking what are we good at, and then we thought that these new liquors should essentially combine the strengths of our group – global sourcing on the ground, and the control that we have with our processing.

“So these three new offerings have excellent sensory profiles, they have the origin, the fermentation and the roasting, so all of them have had perfectly optimised conditions.”  explained the senior industry specialist.

In addition, as Irene added, growing consumer awareness of potential new tastes from around the world has also been a significant element in its decision to pursue expansion of fine flavours from areas around the equator.

She noted that there were many potential contenders to be included within the new series, but some locations offered volumes that were insufficient for its wider commercial requirements.

As for market challenges, with cocoa prices having been elevated for the past year (though have now receded in recent months), this has had a bearing on development of its ranges, but ofi’s teams have been able to navigate present market conditions.

“We have had to be flexible in serving our customers in relation to these ranges, but as ofi, we have had the advantage of global sourcing at our core, so we have been able to find the right beans from the right location, but this has been challenging with fluctuations in the market, but we are continuing to support our customers in providing the right formulations,” added Irene, who felt there had been a markedly positive response to the company’s latest series, which opens a dynamic new chapter of development for the brand.