Zurich is never short on opportunities to celebrate its chocolate culture. Still, the Schoggifestival on 13 April aims to bring cocoa's art, beauty, and responsibility to a new generation with a unique and clear vision.
Established four years ago, Schoggifestival takes place the weekend before Easter. It is part chocolate marketplace where consumers can taste and buy chocolate directly from artisan chocolatiers and part knowledge base with talks and workshops on responsible production.
'Reclaiming cocoa'
This year’s event opens with a coup: it will screen the European film premiere of ‘Reclaiming Cocoa’ with filmmaker Philippe Stalder, followed by a panel discussion (11 April at 8pm at Kino Frame in Zurich).
Reclaiming Cocoa is an independent documentary on the cocoa value chain between Ghana and Switzerland. It peels back the layers of the chocolate industry, taking viewers on a journey from Ghana's lush cocoa farms to Switzerland's polished chocolate shelves, where the famous chocolate consists mostly of Ghanaian beans.
The film will also be repeated in the main Sunday programme.
Deforestation
The central theme of this year’s Schoggifestival is deforestation. Cocoa is still one of West Africa's main drivers. With the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) set to come into force at the end of this year, it is a timely topic. During workshops and talks, participants will discuss challenges and opportunities while exploring innovative solutions.
Andrea Hüsser is the co-founder of Schoggifestival and managing director of The Good Chocolate Hub, a politically independent organization that “sees itself as an NGO”.
Hüsser has a 15-year background in cocoa, human rights, and agricultural development. As a Certified Chocolate Taster, she knows the countless flavours that chocolate can develop. With Anja Glover and Monica Valdivia, she built the Good Chocolate Hub out of the Schoggifestival with a mission to turn the conventional chocolate world on its head with new, more sustainable approaches and put cocoa center stage.
She says Switzerland is a chocolate nation, and everybody is proud of its chocolate, but not many are aware of its legacy.
“An important angle that not many people know about is the role of Switzerland and colonialism, and there is an ugly story behind it,” says Hüsser. “We want to inform people about the background of chocolate and all its challenges and problems.”
Hüsser says Schoggifestival is aimed at consumers, but its message is to discuss sustainability and alternatives to big chocolate.
Trading nation
“Cocoa was an important commodity because Switzerland has always been a trading nation and was trading with ships. We still have them, and we still have the big traders,” she says.
“So that's our colonial heritage, and people don't know that. Additionally, Switzerland played an important role in the development of the cocoa sector in Ghana through the Basel Mission [a Christian missionary society based in Switzerland]. The film also tells this story.
In Hüsser’s view, the biggest problem is that companies based in Switzerland should take responsibility for the whole global supply chain of their brands.
“We have The Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO), but its members only report on what is entering Switzerland. That doesn't really help because it's only a fraction of the world's cocoa production."
A fun-packed Schoggifestival programme
Away from politics, there is a fun-packed Schoggifestival programme on Sunday, 13 April, during which consumers can taste chocolate, talk with the makers, and buy their chocolates. There are also children’s workshops and tastings paired with whisky planned, for example.
“So the goal during the festival is to tell people how they can enjoy chocolate which you can also taste … like a glass of wine with a terroir behind it. If you have a single origin, you can celebrate it like a whiskey or a single-origin coffee, for example.
“We are convinced that responsible chocolate production and enjoyment can go hand in hand,” says Hüsser.
Highlights of the 2025 Festival:
- Chocolate Market: Over 25 exhibitors will showcase sustainably produced chocolate, cocoa products, and solutions to combat deforestation.
Program Highlights:
- Lectures Discussions: How are cocoa farming and deforestation connected? What role does the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) play?
- Guests from Ghana: Jeanne Donkoh (Bioko Treats), Issifu Issaka (cocoa farmer & activist), and Nana Aduna (Ohene Cocoa) will share first-hand experiences.
- Workshops & Tastings: From bean-to-bar production to chocolate pairings. Children's Program: Face painting, treasure hunt, and decorating your own chocolate.
- Cocoaradar.com is the official media partner; check the website for more information and tickets.
Anthony Myers