This special edition of the Forum will mark the 25th Anniversary of the European Cocoa Association and will be held over three days at the island's Radisson Blu Hotel.
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It will focus on cocoa price evolution over the past 18 months, market dynamics, the evolution of cocoa prices, and changing consumer behaviour - essential factors that will affect the future demand for chocolate and confectionery, along with the impact of climate change.
EUDR compliance
Also on the agenda is the upcoming EUDR legislation, which ensures supply chain integrity for cocoa operators, along with a discussion on the business value of traceability and the importance of cross-sector collaboration.
Anthony Myers
In addition, the Forum will bring together key players from the cocoa and chocolate sectors, allowing attendees to engage with high-level speakers from producing countries, leading European businesses, European and international institutions, cocoa-related organizations, civil society.
Confirmed panelists include: Alex Assanvo, Executive Secretary, CIGHCI; Régis Babin, Cocoa and Coffee Entomologist, CIRAD; Marie Baranger, Co-founder, RISOME; Klaus Berend, Director, European Commission DG SANTE; Dora Correia, Director, European Commission DG TRADE; Clive de Ruig, President, ICE Benchmark Administration; Ismail El Khalil, President, Ivory Cocoa Products; Peter Feld, CEO, Barry Callebaut; Michiel Kokken, Head of Regulatory, ofi; Michiel Kuit, Senior Consultant, Agri-Logic; Harold Poelma, Strategic Advisor, EC; Jorge Marún Ramirez, General Manager, Pongarbel; Iván Ontaneda, President, ANECACAO; Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister, Government of Malta; Rachel Vujovic, Director, Aldi Süd; Morag Webb, Head of Science and Policy, COLEAD; Dieter Weisskopf, Former CEO, Lindt & Sprüngli.
ECA elects new chairman and Executive Committee
The ECA has confirmed Christian Vollers, Managing Director of Vollers Group, as the new President of the Association for the upcoming year, starting on 15 May 2025.
Vollers said: "I am pleased to take up the Presidency of the European Cocoa Association at a moment where the cocoa sector finds itself at a crossroads.
“I am proud to represent the ECA as President, as it is through the high degree of involvement of our growing network of members that we continue to be at the forefront in developing pragmatic solutions to increasingly complex legislation.
“As the voice of the European cocoa sector, the ECA continues to be heard by the European institutions and EU Member States."
In other changes to the new ECA Executive Committee, Chris Beetge, Head of Cocoa at ofi (olam food ingredients), has been appointed as the ECA Vice-President, and Guus de Gruiter, Co-CEO of ECOM Cocoa, as the ECA Treasurer.
About the ECA
The European Cocoa Association is a trade association that brings together major companies involved in the cocoa bean industry, as well as processing, warehousing, and related logistical activities in Europe. Together, ECA members represent 90% of the EU cocoa bean grinding, 85% of Europe's industrial chocolate production, and well over 85% of Europe's cocoa liquor, butter, and powder production.
For more information on the ECA and Forum, please visit the website.
Anthony Myers