# From The Desk of CocoaRadar™
> News and exclusive analysis on the cocoa sector and chocolate trends focussing on sustainability, regulation, prices, supply & demand
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## Posts
- [Cocoa Crops Face Twin Rainfall Threat as Ivorian Farmers Warn of Dry Spell](https://cocoaradar.com/cocoa-crops-face-twin-rainfall-threat-as-ivorian-farmers-warn-of-dry-spell.md) - Below-average rainfall across much of Côte d'Ivoire has raised fears of a weaker and shorter main cocoa crop, just as new research identifies both drought and intense downpours as major drivers of harvest volatility
- [NCA Opens Nominations for 2027 Confectionery Industry Awards](https://cocoaradar.com/nca-opens-nominations-for-2027-confectionery-industry-awards.md) - Four awards will recognise leadership, partnership and advocacy across the US confectionery sector, with recipients to be honoured at the association’s annual State of the Industry Conference in Orlando
- [Cocoa’s AI Revolution May Be Won With Better Data – Not Robots](https://cocoaradar.com/cocoas-ai-revolution-may-be-won-with-better-data-not-robots.md) - CAAICC26: From advice for farmers and demand forecasting to knowledge preservation, cocoa businesses are finding practical uses for artificial intelligence. But industry specialists warn that unreliable data, weak infrastructure and inadequate human oversight could turn promise into risk
- [Ghana Cocoa Price Dispute Intensifies As a 6% Rise Tests Farmer Incentives](https://cocoaradar.com/ghana-cocoa-price-dispute-intensifies-as-a-6-rise-tests-farmer-incentives.md) - PREMIUM: The argument over Ghana’s proposed producer price tests whether the country can turn stronger cocoa revenues into credible incentives for growers without weakening Cocobod’s finances
- [Global Witness Findings Deepen Questions Over Mondelēz Cocoa Strategy](https://cocoaradar.com/global-witness-findings-deepen-questions-over-mondelez-cocoa-strategy.md) - An investigation by Global Witness alleges that Mondelēz International pursued an extensive campaign to weaken the EU’s deforestation law. The findings add a new dimension to CocoaRadar’s reporting that the chocolate group is considering changes to Cocoa Life, its flagship sustainability programme
- [THG and Merck Pilot Cocoa Traceability System Ahead of EUDR Deadline](https://cocoaradar.com/thg-and-merck-pilot-cocoa-traceability-system-ahead-of-eudr-deadline.md) - The Hedera-based system combines physical authentication with digital supply-chain records as cocoa businesses prepare for the EU’s deforestation rules
- [El Niño Tests Cocoa’s Thin Supply Buffer as Industry Outlooks Diverge](https://cocoaradar.com/el-nino-tests-cocoas-thin-supply-buffer-as-industry-outlooks-diverge.md) - Côte d’Ivoire has opened its 2026-27 campaign, Ghana’s operating terms remain unclear and Ecuador is preparing for potentially damaging rain. Yet the industry is divided over whether the coming crop will bring another shortage, CocoaRadar can exclusively report
- [CAA Conference Day One: Resilience, Demand And Regulation Dominate Singapore Debate](https://cocoaradar.com/caa-conference-day-one-resilience-demand-and-regulation-dominate-singapore-debate.md) - From price volatility and supply constraints to Asia’s processing growth and the approaching EUDR deadline, Day One of the CAA International Cocoa Conference examined how the industry can build a more resilient, investable and equitable future
- [West African Cocoa Reforms Collide With Rising Supply Risks](https://cocoaradar.com/west-african-cocoa-reforms-collide-with-rising-supply-risks.md) - Ghana is meeting restructuring obligations while facing pressure to accelerate institutional reform, as Côte d’Ivoire pursues greater domestic processing. Meanwhile, disease and a possible strong El Niño are strengthening upside risks for cocoa prices
- [Women and Youth Must Shape Cocoa’s Future, CAA Farmer Forum Hears](https://cocoaradar.com/women-and-youth-must-shape-cocoas-future-caa-farmer-forum-hears.md) - Speakers at the CAA International Cocoa Conference in Singapore called for community-led investment, broader resilience measures, and stronger pathways for women and younger people to become decision-makers and entrepreneurs
- [The Crisis in Cocoa for Industry and Farmers](https://cocoaradar.com/the-crisis-in-cocoa-for-industry-and-farmers.md) - In his second article, Steven Haws of Commodities Risk Analysis (CRA) summarizes the events that have led to the current crisis. He argues that industry representatives are calling for greater collaboration across the supply chain and for innovation that benefits both the industry and cocoa farmers
- [CAA Becomes First Association to Back ASEAN Sustainability Programme](https://cocoaradar.com/caa-becomes-first-association-to-back-asean-sustainability-programme.md) - CocoaRadar exclusive: Asian cocoa body places the sector behind the ASEAN One Billion Trees Growing Initiative as conference speakers call for greater resilience, traceability and collaboration
- [Publish Audit Findings, Cocoa Study Author Urges After False Sustainability Reporting Experiment](https://cocoaradar.com/publish-audit-findings-cocoa-study-author-urges-after-false-sustainability-reporting-experiment.md) - Exclusive: Academic Federico Cammelli tells CocoaRadar that sustainability schemes should disclose how effectively their audits detect false reporting, after a cocoa farm experiment found that hiding compliance targets more than halved manipulation
- [Olam’s ofi Results Sharpen Focus on Indonesia’s Cocoa Supply Gap](https://cocoaradar.com/olams-ofi-results-sharpen-focus-on-indonesias-cocoa-supply-gap.md) - Lower cocoa and coffee prices have eased ofi’s working-capital burden, but Indonesia’s underused processing base shows why cheaper beans alone cannot resolve Asia’s supply challenge
- [Beyond the Price Spike: Singapore Prepares for Cocoa’s Next Big Conversation](https://cocoaradar.com/beyond-the-price-spike-singapore-prepares-for-cocoas-next-big-conversation.md) - As the global cocoa sector confronts volatile markets, regulatory upheaval and questions over future supply, the Cocoa Association of Asia is bringing the industry together. CocoaRadar speaks exclusively with CAA Secretary General and COO Shirley Choo about why this year’s gathering matters
- [Barry Callebaut Restores COO Role With Mondelēz Veteran](https://cocoaradar.com/barry-callebaut-restores-coo-role-with-mondelez-veteran.md) - Thomas Gaengler will take operational control as the chocolate supplier seeks to strengthen customer service, procurement and supply-chain execution. Markets: Cocoa weakened as strong West African deliveries reinforced the near-term supply recovery
- [Farmgate Cocoa Price: Côte d'Ivoire Faces a Major Dilemma](https://cocoaradar.com/farmgate-cocoa-price-cote-divoire-faces-a-major-dilemma.md) - EXCLUSIVE: Days before the announcement of the new farmgate cocoa price, scheduled for 3 September, the Conseil du Café-Cacao (CCC) is facing one of its most difficult equations in recent years ...
- [When Cocoa Data Turns to Dust](https://cocoaradar.com/when-cocoa-data-turns-to-dust.md) - Editor's comment: The cocoa market has more information than ever. Without shared definitions and proper context, however, apparent precision can distort prices, investment and risk
- [Knoops Claims Record Start as Utah Store Launches US Expansion](https://cocoaradar.com/knoops-claims-record-start-as-utah-store-launches-us-expansion.md) - The British drinking-chocolate brand says its Salt Lake City opening at the weekend recorded the highest volume of drinks per trading hour of any Knoops launch, following a campaign built around local testing, social media promotion and complimentary opening-weekend drinks
- [Mars Bar Shrinkflation Puts Cocoa Use In Spotlight As Ghana And Côte d’Ivoire Warn Over Chocolate Reformulation](https://cocoaradar.com/mars-bar-shrinkflation-puts-cocoa-use-in-spotlight-as-ghana-and-cote-divoire-warn-over-chocolate-reformulation.md) - A 35-year-old Mars bar discovered during a UK house clearance has provided a striking illustration of how confectionery products have shrunk over time, just as Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire raise a potentially bigger concern for cocoa producers ...
- [University Of Reading Makes First 100% British Chocolate Bar Since 1932](https://cocoaradar.com/university-of-reading-makes-first-100-british-chocolate-bar-since-1932.md) - The first chocolate bar made entirely from British-grown ingredients in more than 90 years has been produced by researchers at the University of Reading.
- [Residual Cocoa Stocks, CCC Ends Evacuation Operations as Farmers Demand Accountability](https://cocoaradar.com/residual-cocoa-stocks-ccc-ends-evacuation-operations-as-farmers-demand-accountability.md) - Less than a month before the start of the 2026-2027 cocoa season, Le Conseil du Café-Cacao (CCC) has announced the end of operations to evacuate residual cocoa stocks, but the decision comes amid persistent tensions within the sector
- [ClimateAi’s Collapse Raises a Bigger Question: Who Will Pay for Agricultural Intelligence?](https://cocoaradar.com/climateais-collapse-raises-a-bigger-question-who-will-pay-for-agricultural-intelligence.md) - Analysis: The closure of ClimateAi, two years after Gro Intelligence failed, exposes a difficult contradiction at the heart of data-driven agriculture: companies need better intelligence than ever, but turning that need into a sustainable standalone business remains remarkably difficult
- [Rainforest Alliance To Consult Industry On Cocoa-Specific Certification Standard](https://cocoaradar.com/rainforest-alliance-to-consult-industry-on-cocoa-specific-certification-standard.md) - The Rainforest Alliance is set to launch a public consultation on a new cocoa-specific version of its Sustainable Agriculture Standard, as the certification organisation moves towards a more tailored approach to some of the cocoa sector’s most pressing sustainability challenges
- [ISM Middle East 2026 Remains Firmly On The Calendar As Organisers Monitor Regional Situation](https://cocoaradar.com/ism-middle-east-2026-remains-firmly-on-the-calendar-as-organisers-monitor-regional-situation.md) - ISM Middle East is set to return to Dubai from 3–5 November 2026, with organisers reporting strong market interest while continuing to monitor security, travel and aviation conditions across the Gulf following this year’s US–Iran conflict
- [Barry Callebaut’s €2bn Facility Shows Why Financing the Cocoa Cycle Has Become Strategic](https://cocoaradar.com/barry-callebauts-eur2bn-facility-shows-why-financing-the-cocoa-cycle-has-become-strategic.md) - Premium news briefing: The cocoa crisis did more than push bean prices to historic highs. It dramatically increased the amount of capital required to buy, hold and move cocoa through the global supply chain. Plus, Global Cocoa Market Weekly Outlook
- [Ghana’s Cocoa Bill Tries to Protect Supply — But Farmer Restrictions Could Create a New Production Risk](https://cocoaradar.com/ghanas-cocoa-bill-tries-to-protect-supply-but-farmer-restrictions-could-create-a-new-production-risk.md) - Analysis: Ghana is trying to protect cocoa production at precisely the moment when its next crop is deteriorating. The question is whether its new regulatory framework strengthens the sector – or makes cocoa farming less attractive to the people expected to deliver that recovery
- [Mondelēz Weighs Future Of Cocoa Life Amid Renewed Industry Scrutiny](https://cocoaradar.com/mondelez-weighs-future-of-cocoa-life-amid-renewed-industry-scrutiny.md) - EXCLUSIVE: Two industry sources have told CocoaRadar that Mondelēz is considering reducing funding and possibly scaling back Cocoa Life, its flagship cocoa sustainability programme, raising questions over the future of one of the chocolate industry’s biggest corporate sustainability initiatives
- [Brussels Workshop Advances ARS-1000 as Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana Deepen Regional Cocoa Strategy](https://cocoaradar.com/brussels-workshop-advances-ars-1000-as-cote-divoire-and-ghana-deepen-regional-cocoa-strategy.md) - CIGCI has taken another significant step in advancing African leadership on sustainable cocoa, bringing together governments, industry, civil society and development partners to accelerate implementation of the African Regional Standard for Sustainable and Traceable Cocoa (ARS-1000)
- [Hershey's Earnings Beat Signals a New Phase for Chocolate Makers — But the Real Story Lies Beneath the Headlines](https://cocoaradar.com/hersheys-earnings-beat-signals-a-new-phase-for-chocolate-makers-but-the-real-story-lies-beneath-the-headlines.md) - Premium analysis: Hershey's second-quarter results looked impressive at first glance. Revenue beat Wall Street expectations, earnings came in ahead of forecasts, and management raised the lower end of its full-year guidance - so what’s the problem?
- [Hershey, Mondelēz Results Reinforce Resilient Chocolate Demand Despite Cocoa Cost Pressure](https://cocoaradar.com/hershey-mondelez-results-reinforce-resilient-chocolate-demand-despite-cocoa-cost-pressure.md) - Premium news briefing: Strong second-quarter results from big players point to resilient consumer demand, effective pricing strategies and improving margins, offering fresh evidence that major chocolate makers are successfully navigating elevated cocoa costs
- [The Crisis in Cocoa for Industry and Farmers – and the Help Industry Needs and African Farmers Want](https://cocoaradar.com/the-crisis-in-cocoa-for-industry-and-farmers-and-the-help-industry-needs-and-african-farmers-want.md) - Steven Haws of Commodities Risk Analysis (CRA) summarizes the events that have led to the current crisis. He argues that industry representatives are calling for greater collaboration across the supply chain and for innovation that benefits both the industry and cocoa farmers
- [Moving Cocoa: Using NIRS Scanners in the Field to Reduce Costs and Losses](https://cocoaradar.com/moving-cocoa-using-nirs-scanners-in-the-field-to-reduce-costs-and-losses.md) - Between 2023 and 2025, I was part of a project called Cacao-Tech to better understand bean quality before they were even shipped. Our aim was to identify practical ways to use digital tools to improve quality, enhance traceability, and reduce waste in the cocoa sector
- [Lindt's Premium Comes With a Reputation Premium](https://cocoaradar.com/lindts-premium-comes-with-a-reputation-premium.md) - Editor's comment: The Swiss chocolatier can weather higher cocoa prices. A more expensive risk may be damage to the trust that underpins its premium valuation
- [The Sustainability Paradox in Chocolate](https://cocoaradar.com/the-sustainability-paradox-in-chocolate.md) - Importing markets have asked cocoa producers to meet the highest standards in the sector's history. Some manufacturers are responding by quietly taking the cocoa out of chocolate
- [Trump's Forced-Labour Tariffs Largely Spare Cocoa, but Risks Remain for Origin Processing](https://cocoaradar.com/trumps-forced-labour-tariffs-largely-spare-cocoa-but-risks-remain-for-origin-processing.md) - Special report: New US tariffs on 60 trading partners exempt cocoa beans and most semi-processed cocoa products. Finished chocolate exports, however, may still face additional duties – raising fresh questions for cocoa-producing countries seeking to move up the value chain
- [When Story Becomes Strategy: Oumé’s Bid To Build Beyond Chocolate](https://cocoaradar.com/when-story-becomes-strategy-oumes-bid-to-build-beyond-chocolate.md) - Premium insight: The Ivorian-inspired venture backed by former Chelsea footballer Salomon Kalou is betting that emotional connection can help it grow from a premium chocolate launch into a global lifestyle brand
- [Nestlé Leads Sector with RIG-Driven Growth as Chocolate Holds Up Against Cocoa Inflation](https://cocoaradar.com/nestle-leads-sector-with-rig-driven-growth-as-chocolate-holds-up-against-cocoa-inflation.md) - Premium news briefing: Cocoa steadies after sharp correction as the market shifts focus from current supply recovery to growing 2026-27 weather risks
- [Newsflash: Barry Callebaut Ends 32-Year Distribution Partnership With Bidfood Malaysia](https://cocoaradar.com/newsflash-barry-callebaut-ends-32-year-distribution-partnership-with-bidfood-malaysia.md) - Days after CocoaRadar revealed Barry Callebaut had ended its long-standing Australian distribution partnership with Mayers Fine Food, CocoaRadar can now exclusively reveal the Swiss chocolate group has terminated another decades-old distribution agreement – this time in Malaysia
- [EU Backs AI-Driven Cocoa Cell Culture While Doubling Down on Traditional Cocoa Supply](https://cocoaradar.com/eu-backs-ai-driven-cocoa-cell-culture-while-doubling-down-on-traditional-cocoa-supply.md) - Premium analysis: The European Union has committed €5.5 million ($6.28m) to a Horizon Europe project exploring AI-enabled cocoa cell culture, even as it continues investing billions in sustainable cocoa farming
- [New Cocoa Deforestation Framework Targets More Reliable Risk Assessments Ahead of EU Rules](https://cocoaradar.com/new-cocoa-deforestation-framework-targets-more-reliable-risk-assessments-ahead-of-eu-rules.md) - A new methodology from the World Cocoa Foundation and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT aims to bring greater consistency, transparency and fairness to how cocoa companies assess deforestation risk across global supply chains
- [Chicago Wins Race to Become Permanent Home of the Candy Hall of Fame Experience](https://cocoaradar.com/chicago-wins-race-to-become-permanent-home-of-the-candy-hall-of-fame-experience.md) - Chief ‘Wondermaker’ Janet T Planet reveals exclusively to CocoaRadar why Chicago was the only city that made sense for confectionery’s biggest new attraction
- [Mayers Becomes Direct Competitor To Barry Callebaut In Australia After Abrupt End To Long-Standing Deal](https://cocoaradar.com/mayers-becomes-direct-competitor-to-barry-callebaut-in-australia-after-abrupt-end-to-long-standing-deal.md) - Exclusive: After more than 25 years working together, one of Barry Callebaut's longest-standing distribution partnerships has broken down, prompting Australian food distributor F Mayer to launch its own Belgian chocolate brand in direct competition with the world's largest chocolate manufacturer
- [Europe Grindings Weaken as Asia Rebounds;  West Africa Pushes Value Addition; Weather risk overtakes inventory comfort](https://cocoaradar.com/europe-grindings-weaken-as-asia-rebounds-west-africa-pushes-value-addition-weather-risk-overtakes-inventory-comfort.md) - Premium news briefing: The contrasting regional grinding results suggest cocoa demand remains soft in mature Western markets while Asian processing continues to expand as cocoa futures remained highly volatile
- [Four-Nation Cocoa Alliance Could Reshape the Global Chocolate Industry — But It Is Not Yet an 'OPEC' for Cocoa](https://cocoaradar.com/four-nation-cocoa-alliance-could-reshape-the-global-chocolate-industry-but-it-is-not-yet-an-opec-for-cocoa.md) - Premium analysis: For decades, the world's cocoa economy has been defined by a paradox. West Africa grows most of the world's cocoa, yet captures only a fraction of the wealth it generates. Now, that imbalance may be entering a new phase
- [Commission Finalises EUDR Information System Rules as Questions Persist Over Delayed Rollout](https://cocoaradar.com/commission-finalises-eudr-information-system-rules-as-questions-persist-over-delayed-rollout.md) - The European Commission has adopted the long-awaited Implementing Act governing the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Information System, completing one of the final legal steps before the regulation begins applying from the end of 2026
- [Beyond Certification: Can Switzerland’s Cocoa and Coffee Platforms Deliver Real Change for Farmers?](https://cocoaradar.com/beyond-certification-can-switzerlands-cocoa-and-coffee-platforms-deliver-real-change-for-farmers.md) - Premium analysis: For the first time, Switzerland’s sustainable cocoa and coffee platforms have come together under one roof, reflecting a growing recognition that two of the world’s most valuable agricultural commodities now face many of the same existential challenges
- [TogetherCocoa’s Biggest Risk Is an Own Goal](https://cocoaradar.com/togethercocoas-biggest-risk-is-an-own-goal.md) - Editor’s Comment: The cocoa industry’s latest collaborative venture starts with broad support. Its challenge is convincing the sector that it intends to play an open game
- [Premium Market Analysis: Cocoa’s Explosive Rally Signals A Market Repricing Future Risk – Not Today’s Supply](https://cocoaradar.com/premium-market-analysis-cocoas-explosive-rally-signals-a-market-repricing-future-risk-not-todays-supply.md) - The cocoa market has delivered another stark reminder that sentiment can change far faster than fundamentals, as Barry Callebaut returns to Q3 volume growth
- [Barry Callebaut Suspends Cocoa Purchases After Brazil Deforestation Alert, Report Says](https://cocoaradar.com/barry-callebaut-suspends-cocoa-purchases-after-brazil-deforestation-alert-report-says.md) - The world’s largest cocoa processor, which supplies some of the industry’s largest chocolate manufacturers, has suspended purchases from a Brazilian cocoa producer after being alerted to alleged illegal deforestation
- [Raising The Bar: Why Cocoa’s Future Depends On Moving From Compliance To Transformation](https://cocoaradar.com/raising-the-bar-why-cocoas-future-depends-on-moving-from-compliance-to-transformation.md) - As the industry marks World Chocolate Day (7 July) – a celebration of one of the world’s most beloved foods and a reminder of cocoa’s global economic importance – there is growing recognition that the future of chocolate depends on far more than consumer demand
- [Sainsbury’s Signals a New Direction for Cocoa Sustainability – But Important Questions Remain](https://cocoaradar.com/sainsburys-signals-a-new-direction-for-cocoa-sustainability-but-important-questions-remain.md) - Premium insight: British supermarket chain's latest announcement of a collaborative cocoa landscape project in Ghana marks another step in the evolution of retailer-led sustainability efforts
- [Nestlé Revamps Kitkat Recipe As Global Ingredient Overhaul Gathers Pace](https://cocoaradar.com/nestle-revamps-kitkat-recipe-as-global-ingredient-overhaul-gathers-pace.md) - Nestlé is preparing the biggest recipe change to its iconic KitKat chocolate bar in years, as the company simultaneously pushes ahead with a broader global reformulation programme.
- [Lindt’s Pricing Power Under Pressure as Cocoa Shock Hits Demand and Weather Risks Return to the Forefront](https://cocoaradar.com/lindts-pricing-power-under-pressure-as-cocoa-shock-hits-demand-and-weather-risks-return-to-the-forefront.md) - CocoaRadar Intelligence Brief: Lindt & Sprüngli is heading for its worst quarterly stock market performance in 17 years, highlighting growing signs that the industry’s ability to pass record cocoa costs on to consumers is reaching its limits
- [Analysis: Barry Callebaut’s Planned ISM Return Signals Ingredients Are Becoming The Industry’s New Innovation Battleground](https://cocoaradar.com/analysis-barry-callebauts-planned-ism-return-signals-ingredients-are-becoming-the-industrys-new-innovation-battleground.md) - The 2027 ISM Ingredients trade show in Cologne has received a boost with a planned return of Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading chocolate and cocoa ingredient manufacturer, after an absence of a number of years
- [Rainforest Alliance Doubles Down on Regenerative Cocoa As Certification Grows – With Lindt Reaching 100% Certified Sourcing](https://cocoaradar.com/rainforest-alliance-doubles-down-on-regenerative-cocoa-as-certification-grows-with-lindt-reaching-100-certified-sourcing.md) - New regenerative standard signals next phase for sustainable cocoa while Lindt & Sprüngli’s move to source 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa signals increasing mainstream adoption across the chocolate industry
- [‘Rage Against the Dying of the Light’: Why Corporate Boards Are No Longer Looking Away](https://cocoaradar.com/rage-against-the-dying-of-the-light-why-corporate-boards-are-no-longer-looking-away.md) - Exclusive Premium analysis: Two departing chocolate-industry CEOs, two governance decisions, and what they may reveal about modern board oversight
- [How Brexit’s Regulatory Freedom Helped Create A Cocoa-Free Chocolate Pioneer](https://cocoaradar.com/how-brexits-regulatory-freedom-helped-create-a-cocoa-free-chocolate-pioneer.md) - Special Report: For Britain’s food innovators, Brexit was supposed to deliver a dividend: a chance to build a more agile regulatory system capable of bringing breakthrough products to market faster. 10 years since the vote - as it worked?
- [Cocoa rallies to five-month high as El Niño fears outweigh strong Côte d’Ivoire arrivals](https://cocoaradar.com/cocoa-rallies-to-five-month-high-as-el-nino-fears-outweigh-strong-cote-divoire-arrivals.md) - CocoaRadar Intelligence Brief: London cocoa futures surged 7.2% to £3,753/tonne, their highest close in five months, while New York cocoa gained 7.1% to $4,973/tonne as traders priced in the risk that El Niño could curb West African production during the 2026-27 season, according to analysts
- [UK Moves Closer to EUDR Alignment as New Deforestation Rules Put Cocoa Supply Chains Under the Spotlight](https://cocoaradar.com/uk-moves-closer-to-eudr-alignment-as-new-deforestation-rules-put-cocoa-supply-chains-under-the-spotlight.md) - London Climate Action Week announcement signals that Great Britain could adopt a framework closely mirroring the EU Deforestation Regulation, offering relief for cocoa companies already preparing for EUDR compliance
- [Citi Raises Cocoa Price Outlook As ‘Super El Niño’ Threat Puts Latin American Producers On Alert](https://cocoaradar.com/citi-raises-cocoa-price-outlook-as-super-el-nino-threat-puts-latin-american-producers-on-alert.md) - Analysis: Key cocoa suppliers tell CocoaRadar they are preparing for heightened risks from drought, excessive rainfall and disease pressure as market prepares to weather the storm
- [Nestlé Says Collaboration Is ‘The Only Way Forward’ As Income Accelerator Reaches 45,000 Cocoa Households](https://cocoaradar.com/nestle-says-collaboration-is-the-only-way-forward-as-income-accelerator-reaches-45-000-cocoa-households.md) - Swiss company used its 2026 Income Accelerator annual progress webinar to deliver a clear message to the cocoa sector: building resilience for farmers is no longer optional, and collaboration across the industry will be essential to secure the future of cocoa
- [Original Beans’ Philipp Kauffmann: ‘The Industry Needs to Look in the Mirror’](https://cocoaradar.com/original-beans-philipp-kauffmann-the-industry-needs-to-look-in-the-mirror.md) - CocoRadar Dutch Week: After winning the 2026 Good Egg Award, Original Beans’ founder speaks to CocoaRadar about regenerative cacao, price volatility, farmer trust, organic supply pressures and why chocolate must move beyond short-term survival
- [CocoaRadar Dutch Week: Former Cargill Trader Defends Role of Speculation in Cocoa Markets](https://cocoaradar.com/cocoaradar-dutch-week-former-cargill-trader-defends-role-of-speculation-in-cocoa-markets.md) - CocoaRadar Intelligence Brief: Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire deepen cocoa alliance as market focus shifts from supply recovery to the 2026-27 season
- [Dutch Cocoa’s Convening Power: Can Collaboration Deliver Living Incomes?](https://cocoaradar.com/dutch-cocoas-convening-power-can-collaboration-deliver-living-incomes.md) - CocoaRadar Dutch Week: As the Netherlands strengthens its position at the centre of the global cocoa trade, IDH and the Dutch government are banking on shared responsibility to turn sustainability commitments into measurable impact
- [Chocoa 2026: A Year On, the Conversations Shaping Cocoa’s Future Continue](https://cocoaradar.com/chocoa-2026-a-year-on-the-conversations-shaping-cocoas-future-continue.md) - CocoaRadar Dutch Week: As the global cocoa and chocolate sector looks ahead to the next edition of Chocoa, the team behind Chocoa will soon unveil the full agenda for Chocoa 2027, taking place during Amsterdam Cocoa Week from 22–28 February 2027.
- [The Future of Amsterdam Cocoa](https://cocoaradar.com/the-future-of-amsterdam-cocoa.md) - CocoaRadar Dutch Week: Amsterdam is the world's largest cocoa port, though most locals have no idea. Over coffee with two veteran traders and a deep dive into the data, I ask one question: with things getting more complicated and expensive, will the Port still be relevant in the future?
- [Child Labour in Cocoa Persists Despite Progress as Industry Shifts Toward Systemic Solutions](https://cocoaradar.com/child-labour-in-cocoa-persists-despite-progress-as-industry-shifts-toward-systemic-solutions.md) - As governments, companies and campaigners acknowledge World Day Against Child Labour (12 June), pressure is mounting on the cocoa industry to tackle one of its most persistent challenges
- [Hidden Côte d'Ivoire Stocks Point to Much Larger 2025-26 Cocoa Crop](https://cocoaradar.com/hidden-cote-divoire-stocks-point-to-much-larger-2025-26-cocoa-crop.md) - CocoaRadar Intelligence Brief: Cocoa prices remain under pressure from improving supply, but emerging El Niño risks are beginning to cap downside
- [Italy Moves from Promise to Practice with New Cocoa Sustainability Initiative](https://cocoaradar.com/italy-moves-from-promise-to-practice-with-new-cocoa-sustainability-initiative.md) - Italy’s ambitions in sustainable commodity systems are beginning to take tangible form and signals a concrete step toward delivering on commitments made earlier this year at the Chocoa Conference 2026
- [Nestlé Keeps Chocolate, but Tightens Its Focus](https://cocoaradar.com/nestle-keeps-chocolate-but-tightens-its-focus.md) - Exclusive analysis: Nestlé is not retreating from chocolate, but investors looking for a dedicated cocoa growth story may need to adjust their expectations.
- [Rainforest Alliance Bets on Human-Centred AI as Sustainability Enters a New Era](https://cocoaradar.com/rainforest-alliance-bets-on-human-centred-ai-as-sustainability-enters-a-new-era.md) - Exclusive insight: Artificial intelligence is transforming the way cocoa and coffee supply chains are monitored, but the Rainforest Alliance warns that trust – not technology – will determine whether AI becomes a force for sustainability or a new source of inequality
- [Two Years On: What’s Next for CocoaRadar?](https://cocoaradar.com/two-years-on-whats-next-for-cocoaradar.md) - Trusted across the cocoa industry. Independent insight. Global perspective. Essential reading for decision-makers across the cocoa and chocolate value chain, for the 'go-to newsletter' for the industry, the future is bright
- [El Niño Concerns Make Global Cocoa Market Jittery](https://cocoaradar.com/el-nino-concerns-make-global-cocoa-market-jittery.md) - CocoaRadar Intelligence Brief: Growing evidence reinforces concerns that El Niño could pose a major threat to global cocoa supplies during the 2026-27 season, particularly across key West African producing regions
- [Luker Chocolate Wheys in at Sweets & Snacks Expo with  Protein Chocolate](https://cocoaradar.com/luker-chocolate-wheys-in-at-sweets-snacks-expo-with-protein-chocolate.md) - Colombian B2B cocoa specialist Luker Chocolate used the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026 to showcase its latest innovation: a portfolio of whey protein-enriched chocolate couvertures designed to help brands tap into growing demand for functional foods without compromising on taste and sensory appeal
- [Barry Callebaut Bets on Premiumisation and Solutions-Led Growth as Cocoa Crisis Reshapes Industry](https://cocoaradar.com/barry-callebaut-bets-on-premiumisation-and-solutions-led-growth-as-cocoa-crisis-reshapes-industry.md) - Cocoa giant is pivoting from transformation to execution, unveiling a new ‘Focus for Growth’ strategy designed to restore volume growth, improve profitability and strengthen its position in higher-value chocolate solutions as the industry grapples with unprecedented cocoa market disruption
- [ICCO Cuts 2024-25 Surplus Estimate as Global Cocoa Market Shifts into Recovery Mode](https://cocoaradar.com/icco-cuts-2024-25-surplus-estimate-as-global-cocoa-market-shifts-into-recovery-mode.md) - Analysis: The International Cocoa Organization’s (ICCO) May 2026 bulletin confirms that the global cocoa market has moved from the severe deficits of recent years into a modest surplus, although the balance is tighter than previously expected
- [Startup Street’s Sweet Spot for Snack Industry Disruptors](https://cocoaradar.com/startup-streets-sweet-spot-for-snack-industry-disruptors.md) - At the 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Las Vegas, emerging brands took centre stage as Startup Street showcased the next generation of confectionery innovation – including one Utah company reimagining the chocolate bar
- [Touton Said to Exit Storage and Processing Operations After Hartree Deal; Mars invests in Slough; Weather Risks Reignite Cocoa Volatility](https://cocoaradar.com/touton-said-to-exit-storage-and-processing-operations-after-hartree-deal-mars-invests-in-slough-weather-risks-reignite-cocoa-volatility.md) - French cocoa trader Touton is reportedly scaling back its storage and processing activities following its acquisition by commodities trading firm Hartree Partners, according to reports
- [Ghana’s Cocoa Gamble Meets Europe’s Green Demands](https://cocoaradar.com/ghanas-cocoa-gamble-meets-europes-green-demands.md) - Exclusive analysis: As the EU’s deforestation rules reshape global cocoa trade, Ghana is positioning itself as Africa’s most prepared supplier — and a strategic European partner
- [Does The Market For Cocoa By-Products Work?](https://cocoaradar.com/does-the-market-for-cocoa-by-products-work.md) - Six years ago I launched my own company Pacha de Cacao, a 100% natural and fresh cacao juice, full of nutrients and vitamins and a 'taste of the Amazon'. In that time I learned some honest lessons in creating a business from cocoa by-products, which I would like to share with you
- [FIFA World Cup Fever Yet to Grip US Confectionery Sector Ahead of 2026 Tournament](https://cocoaradar.com/fifa-world-cup-fever-yet-to-grip-us-confectionery-sector-ahead-of-2026-tournament.md) - Insight: With just under three weeks to go until the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, football’s biggest global showcase has yet to fully capture the imagination – or advertising budgets – of the American confectionery industry
- [Like Water For Chocolate And The Creation of ‘Affordable Luxury’](https://cocoaradar.com/like-water-for-chocolate-and-the-creation-of-affordable-luxury.md) - Premium cocoa brands are discovering that consumers object less to indulgence than to the insistence that indulgence remains universally accessible
- [Ghana to Host 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Accra](https://cocoaradar.com/ghana-to-host-2027-world-cocoa-foundation-partnership-meeting-in-accra.md) - CocoaRadar Intelligence Brief: PM27 to be held in the capital from 17–18 March, under 'From Origin to Resilience' banner, as expectations rise of a cocoa surplus for 2025-26
- [Premium Chocolate And Shifting Consumer Behaviour Dominate Discussions At Sweets & Snacks Expo](https://cocoaradar.com/premium-chocolate-and-shifting-consumer-behaviour-dominate-discussions-at-sweets-snacks-expo.md) - Premium chocolate, evolving consumer habits, and the future direction of confectionery retail emerged as dominant themes on the opening day of the Sweets & Snacks Expo
- [Sweet and Savouring in Las Vegas](https://cocoaradar.com/sweet-and-savouring-in-las-vegas.md) - The bright lights of Las Vegas have long promised excess, spectacle and sensory overload – and this week, the confectionery and snacks industry arrived in Nevada ready to embrace all three
- [Cargill and Voyage Foods Bring NextCoa Cocoa-Free Alternatives to North America Ahead of Sweets & Snacks Expo](https://cocoaradar.com/cargill-and-voyage-foods-bring-nextcoa-cocoa-free-alternatives-to-north-america-ahead-of-sweets-snacks-expo.md) - As the confectionery industry gathers in Las Vegas this week Cargill and Voyage Foods will unveil their award-winning solution offering manufacturers a new option designed to address cocoa supply volatility, sustainability goals and evolving consumer demand
- [Nestlé’s York Crossroads: Cuts Shadow A Proud Chocolate Legacy](https://cocoaradar.com/nestles-york-crossroads-cuts-shadow-a-proud-chocolate-legacy.md) - Job losses loom even as the city celebrates the workers behind Britain’s confectionery heritage - exclusive insight
- [German Court Rules Against Mondelez International Over Milka ‘Shrinkflation’ Packaging](https://cocoaradar.com/german-court-rules-against-mondelez-international-over-milka-shrinkflation-packaging.md) - CocoaRadar Pro Intelligence Brief: Ruling brought by consumer protection agency. Also, key appointments announced by the ECA and NCA as the market turns 'bullish'
- [Ghana’s Cocoa Crisis Deepens: Debt, Governance Failures, and the Collapse of Farmer Confidence](https://cocoaradar.com/ghanas-cocoa-crisis-deepens-debt-governance-failures-and-the-collapse-of-farmer-confidence.md) - Special Report: Producer Buying Company’s Financial Breakdown Signals a Wider Structural Crisis in Ghana’s Cocoa Sector
- [Hidden Cocoa: Why 52% Of Côte d’Ivoire’s Cocoa Supply Chain Remains In The Dark](https://cocoaradar.com/hidden-cocoa-why-52-of-cote-divoires-cocoa-supply-chain-remains-in-the-dark.md) - Côte d’Ivoire accounted for 36% of global cocoa bean production in 2024. Yet despite years of corporate sustainability pledges, European regulation and multimillion-dollar traceability programmes, more than half of the country’s cocoa exports remain effectively invisible to public scrutiny
- [Eyes down in Las Vegas as Sweets & Snacks Expo 2026 Goes ‘All In’ for Global Confectionery](https://cocoaradar.com/eyes-down-in-las-vegas-as-sweets-snacks-expo-2026-goes-all-in-for-global-confectionery.md) - The global confectionery and snack industries are preparing for one of their most important gatherings in years, as the 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo debuts in Las Vegas - and CocoaRadar will be in town with the latest
- [Chocolate Industry Faces Reckoning Over Poverty, Deforestation and Child Labour](https://cocoaradar.com/chocolate-industry-faces-reckoning-over-poverty-deforestation-and-child-labour.md) - The newly released 7th Edition of the Chocolate Scorecard reveals under half of cocoa farmers supplying the world’s biggest chocolate brands still earn below a living income, while deforestation and child labour remain entrenched across major supply chains
- [Cocoa’s Rally Above $4,000 Is Becoming a Positioning Event – Not Just a Supply Story. Should the market be ‘fearful’?](https://cocoaradar.com/cocoas-rally-above-4-000-is-becoming-a-positioning-event-not-just-a-supply-story-should-the-market-be-fearful.md) - CocoaRadar Pro Intelligence Brief: Cocoa’s sharp move back above $4,100/mt is no longer just about West African weather or crop anxiety.
- [From Farm to Framework: How Sunbeth Global Concepts is Redefining Sustainability in African Cocoa](https://cocoaradar.com/from-farm-to-framework-how-sunbeth-global-concepts-is-redefining-sustainability-in-african-cocoa.md) - Part 1: The cocoa industry is at an inflection point. The EU Deforestation Regulation has fundamentally changed the terms of entry for cocoa in European markets. Verified, geolocated, deforestation-free supply chains are no longer a premium credential. They are the new baseline
- [If Cooperatives Are Central to Cocoa Sourcing, They Must Be Central to Cocoa Investment](https://cocoaradar.com/if-cooperatives-are-central-to-cocoa-sourcing-they-must-be-central-to-cocoa-investment.md) - At a time when the cocoa market is being tested by price shocks, supply disruptions, and rising regulatory pressure, one message came through clearly in a recent webinar hosted by CocoaRadar in partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation ...
- [Fairtrade Raises Cocoa Living Income Reference Prices After Industry-Wide Review](https://cocoaradar.com/fairtrade-raises-cocoa-living-income-reference-prices-after-industry-wide-review.md) - Fairtrade International has announced updated Living Income Reference Prices (LIRPs) for cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, set to take effect at the start of the 2026-27 harvest season
- [Cocoaradar Analysis: EU Deforestation Regulation Simplification Package](https://cocoaradar.com/cocoaradar-analysis-eu-deforestation-regulation-simplification-package.md) - The European Commission has published its long-awaited simplification review of the EUDR. Here's what we know so far.
- [Moving Cocoa: All Eyes on Cameroon](https://cocoaradar.com/moving-cocoa-all-eyes-on-cameroon.md) - It's more than 20 years since I lived in Cameroon and owned my own little cocoa plot. In the intervening years, there have been periods of civil unrest, but recently, there has been peace and stability, which has allowed its cocoa sector to grow and become the world's fifth-largest producer
- [Mondelēz Beats Q1 Expectations as Cocoa Price Slump Eases Margin Pressure](https://cocoaradar.com/mondelez-beats-q1-expectations-as-cocoa-price-slump-eases-margin-pressure.md) - CocoaRadar Pro Intelligence Brief: Mondelēz International reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results, supported by pricing power and easing input costs amid a retreat in cocoa prices, while Magnum Ice Cream Company Posts Resilient Q1 Growth
- [Farmforce and Barry Callebaut Expand Traceability Push Across Global Cocoa Supply Chain](https://cocoaradar.com/farmforce-and-barry-callebaut-expand-traceability-push-across-global-cocoa-supply-chain.md) - Farmforce and Barry Callebaut are scaling up a multi-year partnership to tighten traceability and sustainability standards in cocoa sourcing – an area under increasing regulatory and consumer scrutiny
- [Ferrero Expands US Manufacturing with $75M Nutella Peanut Facility in Illinois](https://cocoaradar.com/ferrero-expands-us-manufacturing-with-75m-nutella-peanut-facility-in-illinois.md) - Italian confectionery giant Ferrero has strengthened its North American manufacturing footprint with the launch of a $75 million production expansion in Franklin Park, Illinois
- [Dubai Stakes Its Claim in Cocoa Trade With New DMCC Cacao Centre](https://cocoaradar.com/dubai-stakes-its-claim-in-cocoa-trade-with-new-dmcc-cacao-centre.md) - Insight: Strategic partnerships with Kumbi Cocoa and Ribezzi Group anchor the launch
- [Global Organic Cocoa: Small Share, Strategic Leverage](https://cocoaradar.com/global-organic-cocoa-small-share-strategic-leverage.md) - ANALYSIS: A Supply Chain Racing to Prove It Can Comply
- [Nestlé Signals Confectionery Recovery As Cocoa-Linked Pricing Cycle Begins To Stabilise](https://cocoaradar.com/nestle-signals-confectionery-recovery-as-cocoa-linked-pricing-cycle-begins-to-stabilise.md) - CocoaRadar Pro Intelligence Brief: Market Report - Cocoa Remains Trapped Between Weak Grind Demand And Fragile West African Supply Execution
- [Mars And Ofi Deepen Partnership To Accelerate Net Zero Cocoa In Ecuador](https://cocoaradar.com/mars-and-ofi-deepen-partnership-to-accelerate-net-zero-cocoa-in-ecuador.md) - CocoaRadar Comment: A Promising Step – But Not Yet a Transformation
- [Hershey US President’s Sudden Exit Signals Deeper Corporate Strain - Premium Analysis](https://cocoaradar.com/hershey-us-presidents-sudden-exit-signals-deeper-corporate-strain-premium-analysis.md) - When a senior executive departs quietly, investors and consumers alike tend to look for what isn’t being said. That’s the case with Andrew Archambault, whose abrupt exit as US president of The Hershey Company comes amid unusual financial and reputational pressure for the iconic chocolate maker
- [Swiss Mail Campaign Targets Lindt & Sprüngli Over Cocoa Practices](https://cocoaradar.com/swiss-mail-campaign-targets-lindt-sprungli-over-cocoa-practices.md) - Exclusive CocoaRadar Investigation: A leaflet sent to households across Switzerland is raising fresh questions about pesticide use, child labour, and corporate oversight in the global cocoa supply chain – placing premium chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli at the centre of renewed scrutiny
- [Barry Callebaut’s Reset: Schumacher’s First 100 Days at the Helm - Exclusive Analysis](https://cocoaradar.com/barry-callebauts-reset-schumachers-first-100-days-at-the-helm-exclusive-analysis.md) - Focus, or Fragment Further: New CEO Hein Schumacher bets that simplification can unlock growth, restore the Group’s volumes and recurring EBIT after sharp cocoa reversal but who holds the cards?
- [Barry Callebaut Resets Strategy as Cocoa Price Collapse Forces Volume-First Pivot](https://cocoaradar.com/barry-callebaut-resets-strategy-as-cocoa-price-collapse-forces-volume-first-pivot.md) - CocoaRadar Pro Intelligence Brief: Cocoa’s Rebound Ran Into Hard Demand Data: Prices Bounced, But Europe’s Grind Slump And Barry Callebaut’s Weak Volumes Kept The Market Fundamentally Heavy
- [UPDATE: Ferrero confirms it is the company at the centre of EU Antitrust Raids](https://cocoaradar.com/latest-eu-antitrust-raids-hit-chocolate-sector-nestle-and-mondelez-rule-themselves-out.md) - Europe’s competition authorities have turned their attention back to the mechanics of pricing power in the chocolate aisle – launching unannounced antitrust inspections that have immediately triggered industry-wide positioning and denial
- [Nestlé Goes Cocoa‑free In Germany With Choviva-Coated Choco Crossies](https://cocoaradar.com/nestle-goes-cocoa-free-in-germany-with-choviva-coated-choco-crossies.md) - Analysis: Nestlé is taking a headline-grabbing step in confectionery, announcing a new ‘Choco Crossies’ product line in Germany that is coated not in chocolate, but in ChoViva, a cocoa-free alternative made from seeds and plant-based ingredients
- [NCA Strengthens Leadership Bench with Strategic Promotions and New Education Initiative](https://cocoaradar.com/nca-strengthens-leadership-bench-with-strategic-promotions-and-new-education-initiative.md) - The National Confectioners Association (NCA) is entering a new phase of strategic growth, marked by senior leadership promotions and the launch of an ambitious, future-focused education initiative

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