Chocolatiers and Chocolate Makers

West African Cocoa farmers face ongoing struggles with poverty, some living below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day, despite producing approximately 70% of the global Cocoa output. A premium chocolate maker in Côte d’ivoire, Axel Emmanuel Gbaou, seeks to improve conditions for farmers by increasing their value offering, enabling them to earn more …

FARMERS’ WIVES DRIVE IVORIAN CHOCOLATIER’S ‘COCOA REVOLUTION’ Read More »

GUAN Chong Bhd (GCB) saw its net profit rise 57.2% to RM53.3m ($12.14m) in Q1 2022, from RM33.9m ($7.72m) in the previous corresponding quarter. However, this gain should be weighed against the 30.5% drop in net profit for YE 2021. The company had shown a strong financial performance until last year, with profitability gains every …

MALAYSIA COCOA GRINDER GCB Q1 2022 PROFIT GROWTH Read More »

Barry Callebaut, one of the global leaders in chocolate and cocoa production, has announced plans to expand its presence in North America with the unveiling of a new factory in Ontario, Canada. The project marks the largest ever capital investment by the Barry Callebaut Group in the Region – projected to cost USD $104 million …

BARRY CALLEBAUT BIGGEST INVESTMENT YET IN CANADIAN FACTORY Read More »

At the start of the year, we reported on popular chocolate trends we expected to see becoming more prominent in 2022. A shift towards plant-based products, lower sugar snack offerings, and a focus on unique flavours were all predictions that have already started to unfold. As is often the case, what is in trend can …

CELEBRITIES SETTING THE TREND WITH PLANT-BASED COCOA Read More »

Hotel Chocolat is a textbook example of how to pivot in a crisis. With a predominantly bricks and mortar footprint in the UK, the pandemic could have been an existential event. Instead, it encouraged them to look at expansion, using the Internet to sell their products to a broader audience. That in itself is nothing …

HOTEL CHOCOLAT’S STRATEGY VALIDATED AS PROFITS SOAR Read More »

Research conducted by the Penn State Sensory Evaluation Centre showed a relationship between roasting levels and bitterness in chocolate. Specifically, using a more intense roast profile appears to reduce levels of bitterness, according to the researchers. The challenge currently facing chocolate companies is in satisfying people’s sweet tooth with less sugar as consumers become more …

STUDY FINDS LINK BETWEEN ROASTING PROFILE AND BITTERNESS IN CHOCOLATE Read More »

With Christmas behind us, and Valentine’s day right around the corner, chocolate makers have already started turning their attention to Easter, which will conclude the chocolate-fueled holiday season. Germany’s confectioners have raised concerns over supply shortages and logistics struggles, that could burden chocolate makers this season. Challenges with logistics and costs of materials, such as …

SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT TO GERMANY’S EASTER BUNNY Read More »

Chocolate fanatics have another reason to celebrate this year, thanks to efforts by the ‘Vegan Willy Wonka’. While most cocoa enthusiasts have likely already marked World Chocolate Day in their calendars (July 7th in case you missed it), there’s now another noteworthy date to look forward to – and it’s coming up soon. World Vegan …

WORLD VEGAN CHOCOLATE DAY COMES IN VEGANUARY Read More »