Cocoa prices this week shot up as the president-elect of Cote D’Ivoire announced an export ban amid political struggles in the country. Europe’s confectioners and biscuit makers admitted that a temporary ban of cocoa shipments from the region, the world’s largest cocoa exporter, has created “a very testing time” for the industry. Here we take a closer look at the Cote D’Ivoire cocoa market and its importance globally. * Côte d’Ivoire, also known as the... ...Read more »

Cocoa prices have shot up as the president-elect of major cocoa-exporting nation Cote D’Ivoire announced an export ban amid political struggles in the country. Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of last November’s presidential election, announced a one-month suspension on exports of cocoa yesterday morning. He said that anyone not adhering to the ban would be considered to be “financing the illegitimate regime” of Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent Ivory Coast... ...Read more »

On the 23 and 24 January 2011 in Berne, six chocolatiers will compete for the coveted title of “Swiss Chocolate Master”.  The winner will compete in the world of chocolate in Paris.  The six finalists represent the best hotels, restaurants and confectioners in Switzerland. The winner of the “Swiss Chocolate Masters 2011″ will have the honor of representing Switzerland at the prestigious Salon du Chocolat in Paris to be held in October 2011, where he or she will compete for... ...Read more »

Cargill has removed expatriate employees from Ivory Coast following the outbreak of post-election violence in the country. The company said that it had “temporarily removed our small number of expatriates from the country and have put in place measures to support the safety and security of our Ivorian employees”. Cargill added that it was monitoring the situation and following the advice being given by foreign governments and the United Nations. The violence erupted after Ivory Coast... ...Read more »

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli cannot trademark the shape and golden wrapping (with associated bell and ribbon) of its signature rabbit and reindeer chocolates. Lindt wanted these to become EU trademarks, possibly impeding other EU manufacturers from making rabbit and reindeer-shaped chocolates. However, because Easter bunnies and Christmas reindeers are common chocolate designs, the ECJ has ruled them too generic and to be trademarked this way. The... ...Read more »

On Friday (17 December) Mars, Incorporated received the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) for its work in cocoa sustainability and efforts to improve economic development in the cocoa-growing region of the Republic of Ghana. Mars was chosen from a record number of 78 nominations submitted by American ambassadors around the world. The ACE awards, which were established by the State Department in 1999, are given to honor U.S. businesses that demonstrate good... ...Read more »

Arnott’s, the Australian biscuit business owned by Campbell Soup Co., has pledged to buy Fairtrade cocoa from west Africa.The company said it would use Fairtrade cocoa that “prohibits the worst forms of child labour, ensures a fair and stable price and a Fairtrade Premium which is reinvested back into community projects”. Arnott’s did not respond to an immediate request for further comment but Stephen Knapp, executive director for local Fairtrade organisation Fairtrade Australia... ...Read more »

All Kit Kats sold in Australia will next year be made using UTZ-certified cocoa, brand owner Nestle has announced.UTZ cocoa is already used in the four-finger Kit Kats on sale in Australia but Nestle has pledged to switch all of the brand’s SKUs to the certified cocoa during next year. Andrew McIver, business executive manager for confectionery within Nestle Australia, said the exact timing of the changes depended upon enough certified cocoa becoming available to satisfy production. McIver... ...Read more »

World Vision Australia today welcomed Arnott’s announcement that it will source ethical cocoa that has not been made with the use of child labour for all of its chocolate-based products, including the iconic Tim Tam biscuit. In response to a public campaign by World Vision earlier this year, Arnott’s said on 30 March that it was “committed to playing its part by sourcing sustainable cocoa that avoids the use of child trafficking and unacceptable forms of child labour” by... ...Read more »

The global cost of Fairtrade cocoa will rise in January, certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) has announced. From 1 January, the “Fairtrade Minimum Price” – a floor which buyers must always pay – will rise to US$2,000 a metric tonne. The New Year will also see cocoa farmers earn US$200 in a “Fairtrade Premium” for every metric tonne of the ingredient they sell – up from $150 a tonne. The “premium” is added... ...Read more »