africa
MIA ethical chocolate brand launches scheme for Madagascan girls’ education
British-founded ethical chocolate brand MIA, short for Made In Africa, has launched the Girls’ Education Fund under its 1 for Change impact programme to support vulnerable African students so they can achieve their potential.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Sustainability
Barry Callebaut expands cocoa sustainability with farm mapping in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon
A major milestone has been unveiled by the Barry Callebaut group in its sustainability policies through disclosing its direct cocoa suppliers in core markets of Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon, reports Neill Barston
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
Olam highlights importance of smallholder farmers in global supply chains
Global food and agri-business Olam International has highlighted the importance of addressing the long-term wellness and operational resilience needs of those small-scale farmers for sectors including cocoa production, amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability
Toblerone bars used in campaign for release of abducted Nigerian teenager Leah Sharibu
US author and humanitarian Reno Omokri has continued his campaign for the release of abducted Nigerian teenager Leah Sharibu in creating personalised Toblerone chocolate bars carrying her name to raise the profile of her case, reports Neill Barston.
Confectionery supply chain due diligence becomes ever-more vital for cocoa sector
The issue of due diligence within confectionery supply chains is particularly topical, with mounting pressure on industry to deliver major progress on key environmental and corporate goals to improve conditions for key cocoa farming communities in Africa, as Keith Nuthall reports for Confectionery Production
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
Nestlé joins not-for-profit group Earthworm and Ivory Coast authorities for key forest scheme
Global confectionery group Nestlé has teamed up with not-for-profit organisation Earthworm Foundation for a major Ivory Coast forest protection initiative alongside the country’s ministry of Waters and Forests. Neill Barston reports
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
Ghana’s Cocobod trade organisation reopens after temporary coronavirus office closure
Staff working at the headquarters of the Ghana Cocoa Board in Accra have been affected by coronavirus, resulting in a three-day closure of its offices and subsidiary divisions following deep-cleaning of its facilities.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
BDSI expresses concern for cocoa industry over sharp decline in European grinding results
The Federal Association of the German Confectionery Industry (BDSI) has expressed concern at a sharp downturn in cocoa grinding serving the chocolate and confectionery industry, which has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Neill Barston reports.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
Digital payments for Ghana’s cocoa growing communities could prove vital to the sector
A report authored by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance has highlighted a core issue of only 10% of payments being made digitally for farmers in Ghana’s cocoa sector – despite the fact that 90% of farmers now own mobile phones, according to latest research.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
Puratos creates four new African subsidiaries for confectionery and bakery operations
The Puratos global confectionery and bakery ingredients group has developed four new African subsidiaries aiming to further establish local presence in key countries, in response to growing sector demand.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Sustainability
Tony’s Chocolonely launches dark milk bar for UK market
Netherlands-founded confectionery brand Tony’s Chocolonely, which has placed ethical trading as its core goal, is launching a new dark milk chocolate bar for the UK market, as it urges the industry to increase its action on child labour.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, New products, Packaging, Sustainability
Bühler makes major strides with its new Ivory Coast cocoa competence centre
Bühler’s recent virtual world presentations offered an online impression of technology set for Interpack, which was postponed due to coronavirus. One of the key stories to emerge was its new cocoa competence centre in Ivory Coast. Neill Barston speaks to the project’s director Désiré N’Zi.
Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability
International Cocoa Initiative finds coronavirus causes spike in child labour within supply chains
Studies from the International Cocoa Initiative have found a concerning significant rise in the number of Ivory Coast children carrying out hazardous work within cocoa production. Neill Barston reports.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Regulatory, Sustainability
UK chocolate brand MIA releases sustainability impact report
UK-founded Chocolate brand MIA, short for Made In Africa, has revealed its key increased social and environmental gains in its 2019 impact report, as it upscales its production operations and manages a transition to locally pressed Madagascan cocoa butter.
Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Packaging, Processing, Sustainability