Strategies for confectionery makers to absorb rocketing price rises
are essential as cocoa prices crash through the $3000 barrier, with
demand outstripping supplies and pulling the stocks-to-grindings
ratio to a 22-year low.
Quality and supplies for the key ingredient in chocolate - cocoa -
may gain from a new project that sees Mars link up with the US
goverment and IBM to unlock the cocoa genome.
The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) monthly review of the
cocoa market suggests that a decline of the monthly average ICCO
daily price in April compared to the previous month could be
misleading as far as futures markets are...
Barry Callebaut has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Biolands of
Tanzania, Africa's largest exporter of certified organic cocoa,
after purchasing 100 per cent of its top-end cocoa for the past
eight years.
While most consumers agree that ethically-sourced cocoa is no bad
thing, an ever increasing number of different schemes risks
muddying the issue and puzzling chocolate fans.
A panel of experts recommend that more countries be
recognised as fine or flavour cocoa producing countries in order to
provide new opportunities for trade.
Vietnam looks set to become one of Asia's primary cocoa producers,
with the government pledging to invest 40 billion
dong (€1.8m) in the country's burgeoning cocoa trade, according to
local news reports.
Demand for cocoa is on the up, registering compound growth of 2.7
per cent over the next three years, and most of it will come
from Africa, according to a new report.
A UK-based pressure group campaign against companies
that buy cocoa from the Ivory Coast has accused
the industry of funding conflict and civil unrest.
US based cocoa producer Cargill has developed a new method of
processing cocoa which allows for reduced fat content and greater
dispersibility in cocoa powder.
Chocolate giant Mars has filed a lawsuit against Natraceutical,
alleging that the Spanish company is infringing its patents on
polyphenol-rich cocoa extracts by selling CocoanOX extracts in the
United States.
