fairtrade

The World Confectionery Conference proves a decisive industry success

For this week’s blog entry, there can only really be one subject, and that is in offering significant thanks to the hundreds of colleagues and friends across the industry who participated at our debut World Confectionery Conference.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Packaging, Processing

Fairtrade expresses concerns over key drop in prices for Ivory Coast and Ghana cocoa crops

Fairtrade has expressed key concerns at a ‘disastrous’ cocoa prices within key West African markets of Ivory Coast and Ghana, with potential impact on future sustainability for the industry, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability

Fairtrade calls on UK government for action on ‘hidden’ carbon emissions in food supply chains, including cocoa

The Fairtrade Foundation has issued a plea to the UK government to actively tackle ‘hidden’ carbon emissions in British food supply chains – including cocoa growing markets, in an urgent bid to address global climate change, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

Made In Africa: Behind the scenes interview

Confectionery Production editor Neill Barston speaks exclusively to Brett Beach, co-founder of the Made In Africa confectionery brand, on its rise over the past three years, challenges amid the pandemic and product launch plans for 2021

Fairtrade raises concerns for Central American cocoa communities hit by hurricane Eta

Fairtrade has raised concerns for cocoa farmers operating with its initiatives in Central America, as they face mounting losses from crops extensively damaged by Hurricane Eta this month, reports Neill Barston

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability

Swiss platform for sustainable cocoa elects Filippo Veglio as president

The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, a national industry body of manufacturers, cocoa traders and retailers, has elected Filippo Veglio as its new president at a meeting of its general assembly.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability

Campaigners present Nestlé with petition over ending Fairtrade KitKat deal

Campaigners have protested at the UK headquarters of Nestlé, handing over a petition signed by 300,000 against the company’s move away from Fairtrade cocoa sourcing for its KitKat brand, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability

Fairtrade unveils plans for major rebrand of its activities

The Fairtrade movement has begun a major rebrand of its activities in a bid to reinforce the scale of its work across the world, including supporting cocoa growing communities, reports Neill Barston

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, New products, Regulatory, Sustainability

The International Cocoa Initiative calls for greater industry-wide action on child and forced labour

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) has called for ‘a massive expansion’ of collaboration from the industry’s key players to reach out at risk children and adults who are vulnerable to forced labour within the sector, reports Neill Barston

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

Peruvian cocoa producers benefit from Fairtrade coronavirus fund

A Fairtrade fund established by the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fair Trade Small Producers and Workers (Clac) is reportedly proving effective at assisting a number of cocoa producing operations, including in Peru.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Food safety, Ingredients, Processing, Sustainability

Nestlé confirms ending Fairtrade KitKat deal after meeting cross party parliamentary group

Nestlé has confirmed that it intends to drop its decade-long cocoa sourcing deal with Fairtrade in favour of Rainforest Alliance, following a meeting with a cross parliamentary group of UK MPs who had urged the business to reconsider its plans, reports Neill Barston.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability

Co-Op repurposes funding for Fairtrade farmers around the world

The UK-based Co-op group has repurposed a total of £310,000 funding to directly support Fairtrade cocoa sector producers around the world, including farmers in Peru, who have been impacted by the global coronavirus crisis.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Processing, Sustainability

Divine Chocolate CEO Sophi Tranchell steps down as company is acquired by Ludwig Weinrich

Divine Chocolate has confirmed it now has a new majority shareholder, Ludwig Weinrich, as the company’s first MD and CEO, Sophi Tranchell steps down from the British business after 21 years.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, New products, Packaging, Sustainability

Fairtrade report claims key progress on training West African cocoa farmers

A series of schemes from Fairtrade International designed to assist cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast has made notable gains in improving conditions for communities, according to a progress study. Neill Barston reports.

Business news, Cocoa & chocolate, Processing, Sustainability

Fairtrade report identifies greater combined initiatives required on key cocoa sustainability schemes

A major research project from Fairtrade has identified that the cocoa sector requires greater levels of joint working on sustainability ventures to help effectively tackle significant levels of farmer poverty that remain a crucial factor for confectionery supply chains.

Cocoa & chocolate, Ingredients, New products, Processing, Regulatory, Sustainability