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On Monday June 27, Barry Callebaut detected a salmonella positive production lot manufactured in Wieze, Belgium. For Barry Callebaut food safety is paramount.  

"Our robust food safety programs in place allowed us to quickly identify lecithin as the source of the contamination," said the company. Barry Callebaut informed the Belgian food authorities (FAVV) about the incident and has taken the precautionary measure to stop all chocolate production lines and to block all products manufactured since the time of testing. We are currently reaching out to all customers who may have received impacted products. The chocolate production in Wieze will remain suspended until further notice.

Barry Callebaut will now take the time to continue with the very diligent root cause analysis - keeping the FAVV informed in the process. When that is completed the lines will be cleaned and disinfected before resuming the production process.

The Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) reported a new high in Malaysia’s exports of cocoa and chocolate products, which reached circa USD 1.57 bn in 2021, up from circa USD 950 m in 2010. This figure represents the combined total for the exports of cocoa beans, cocoa shells and husks (raw & roasted), cocoa paste, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and chocolate.

At the Sabah Cocoa Festival 2022, MCB’s director-general Dr Ramle Kasin said he believes the rise is partly due to the increase in chocolate consumption in Asia-Pacific countries. In the period between 2010 and 2021, the per capita chocolate consumption rate across Asia-Pacific nations rose from 0.15 kg/a to 0.2 kg/a (Europe: circa 5 kg/a).

Dr Kasin said he anticipated new growth for the cocoa industry, as the Cocoa festival would promote locally produced chocolate and encourage the expansion of the domestic marketing network. As a result, the market size and variety of cocoa products available are expected to increase, alongside the revenue generated from the sector.

After six years and a forced absence during the pandemic, interpack, the world’s biggest trade fair for the packaging industry and related process industries is up and running again. From May 4 to 10 2023, Düsseldorf will once again become a business platform and future technology workshop. interpack has already been fully booked out, and the trade show will occupy the entire exhibition area. Interested companies can still register for the waiting list and thus have the chance to exhibit too.

In 18 halls, targeted exhibition areas, new speciality shows and forums, the industry will demonstrate its innovative prowess. Around 2,700 exhibitors from around the world will present leading technology and packaging trends from the entire value chain. Six years and a forced absence during the pandemic mean that there is a multitude of novel developments on the market.

Visitors from the food industry will find everything in one area at interpack 2023. The same is true for visitors from confectionery and bakery industries. This refined layout was made possible by a new concept for the exhibition halls, which will be implemented for the first time in the coming year. The other focal points of the exhibition, namely packaging materials and packaging goods, machines for labelling and marking, production of packaging material and integrated printed packaging, are brought together in their own halls as well. Exhibitors at the accompanying suppliers' fair “components” will also be hosted in their own hall. Orientation for visitors is thus optimised, which allows visits to be planned more effectively.

interpack delivers stimuli for progressive and visionary concepts, and continues to expand the accompanying programme accordingly. Next yearʼs event will specifically focus on the topics of circular economy, saving resources, digital technology and product safety. Outside exhibition times, too, interpack's digital communication platform Tightly Packed keeps its finger on the pulse and continues to offer information on new developments, best practices and trends.

With a group turnover of EUR 766 m in 2021, Uelzena Group has been able to build on the positive business development of pre-pandemic years. This increase in the reporting year also reflects the persistent price rises in the market. As a result, the group recorded turnover rises of about EUR 75 m in the main product groups alone, which equates to a growth of 12.4 %. In the area of milk raw ingredients, quantities increased by two percent over the previous year. With group earnings of EUR 6.74 m and an equity ratio of 34.4 %, Uelzena Group remains financially robust during these challenging periods. The number of employees rose slightly to 790 people.

A pioneering initiative to improve the livelihoods of vanilla farmers in Madagascar focused on developing cocoa as a supplemental source of income, started by Barry Callebaut and Prova in 2016, is being expanded. All vanilla extract Barry Callebaut sources for the European market is now 100 % sustainable.

Vanilla farmers in Madagascar are heavily dependent on vanilla prices. When the price is low, many of them struggle to make ends meet. In order to diversify and stabilize their income streams, Prova and Barry Callebaut, supported by the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), have teamed up to support vanilla farmers in introducing cocoa trees on their farm, providing training to improve the productivity and quality of both vanilla and cocoa while also funding and supporting local communities through social, health and education programmes.

As part of their Forever Chocolate strategy to make sustainable chocolate the norm, Barry Callebaut are committed to having 100 % sustainable ingredients in all their products by 2025. The project they started in 2016 in Bemanevika/Madagascar has proven to be a highly successful driver of 100 % sustainable vanilla. Despite the challenges created by tropical cyclone Enawo in 2017, volatile vanilla prices and a global pandemic, the collaboration with Prova has exceeded all expectations and a second phase is now being launched.

Nanette Haubensak, Chief Financial Officer of the Hochdorf Group, is to leave the company at her own request during the second half of 2022. Gerhard Mahrle has been announced as ad interim CFO. He will take over the position on 15 August 2022 until further notice. The company has also initiated the search for a permanent replacement.

Nanette Haubensak has been Chief Financial Officer and a member of the group management since 29 June 2020. Gerhard Mahrle will join the company on 4 July and work alongside Nanette Haubensak until he officially takes over the role of CFO on 15 August. Ms Haubensak will oversee the publication of the half yearly financial statements on 8 August and will leave the company during the second half of the year following a hand-over period.

Confectionery giant Mars Wrigley has unveiled a new eco-centric chocolate, CO2COA, in a partnership with animal-free dairy protein innovator Perfect Day. Made with certified cocoa in addition to Perfect Day’s cow-free ingredient, CO2COA shall maintain the silky-smooth taste consumers expect while leaning into the flexitarian dietary trends today’s conscious consumers are embracing. The product launch is an extension to the range of snacks and sweets that includes M&M’s, Snickers, Skittles and Extra Gum.

The company details, that the name CO2COA is a “thoughtful and playful” way to pay homage to its Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in product sourcing. The innovation shall provide consumers with a delicious earth-friendly, animal-free, and lactose-free chocolate experience.

US-based Perfect Day’s proteins are identical to those found in cow’s milk. However, instead of being sourced from the animal, the dairy proteins are created through a fermentation process similar to the manufacture of vitamins and amino acids. By adding genes essential to producing milk protein to trichoderma – a type of microflora – the dairy flora ferments plant sugar into whey and casein.

Perfect Day’s ingredient is marketed as the “world’s first nature-identical dairy protein, without any animal inputs”. The company’s whey protein from Perfect Day is free of lactose, hormones, antibiotics and cholesterol. In addition, it contains 25 % more protein, 75 % less sugar and less saturated fat. Since Mars’ CO2COA uses Perfect Day animal-free dairy protein, it is entirely free from lactose and cholesterol. It is also wrapped in paper-based packaging.