Malaysia imports 250,000 t cocoa to meet domestic demand
Malaysia’s cocoa production is insufficient to fulfil domestic demand, so the country imports the commodity.
Malaysia’s cocoa production of 100,000 t/a is not enough to meet the cocoa industry’s demand of 350,000 t/a. The country has to import the difference to meet domestic demand. MCB will apply to state governments across the country for land allocation to promote the cultivation of quality cocoa.
Dr Ramle Kasin, Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) Director General: “I hope cocoa smallholders all over the country unite to increase the production of quality cocoa beans.” According to Dr Kasin, the government is looking at ways to overcome the problem by increasing upstream activities of the cocoa industry, especially the cultivation and growing of cocoa in the country.
Trade fair highlights and packaging solutions from Schubert
From 27 to 29 September 2022, the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre will once again open its doors for the FachPack. In keeping with the motto “Transition in Packaging”, this year’s tradeshow ...
As a further highlight, you will have an opportunity to experience a very flexible traypacker featuring pick & place robotics live. The robotic tools work with 3D printed parts: With our new Partbox 3D printer and our streaming platform, we will demonstrate how you can easily print these format change parts yourself in your own production facilities in the future – and remain as flexible as the market demands.
We would like to invite you to meet our team in person in Nuremberg. Or visit us at our site in Crailsheim which is only an hour’s drive from the Exhibition Centre.
A variety of packaging configurations with a single machine
At the FachPack, Schubert will be demonstrating how robotics enable more flexibility with a traypacker. Many different packing configurations can be created by flexibly combining single and multiple packs. In the future, as many as 14 different packaging formats will be available. Thanks to the completeness check, manufacturers can be sure that only flawless trays are sealed.
Mission Blue: On the journey towards sustainability
As a sustainable company with sustainable machines. And as a development partner for sustainable packaging. With respect for both people and the environment.
Are you interested in a personal meeting at our trade fair stand or would you like to visit us in Crailsheim? Simply schedule an appointment by email: m.collins@gerhard-schubert.de, phone: +49 7951 400-401.
www.schubert.group/en/newsroom/magazine/schubert-is-ready-to-take-on-tomorrow-s-challenges.html www.schubert.group/en/sustainability.html
Syntegon Group appoints Dr Peter Hackel as Chief Financial Officer
The Syntegon Group, a globally leading supplier of processing and packaging technology, intends to appoint Dr Peter Hackel as member of the Executive Board at the beginning of 2023.
Peter Hackel is experienced within Sales as well as in Finance and in this capacity has served as CFO in different companies for more than nine years. He started his career with McKinsey & Company Inc., followed by Geistlich Pharma AG, Oerlikon Corporation AG and, most recently, at Straumann Holding AG, where he has significantly contributed to the positive development of the company as Group CFO and member of the Group Executive Management Board since 2014.
From the beginning of 2023, Dr Walter Bickel, member of the Executive Board of Syntegon with responsibility for Transformation (CTO) and since 1 July 2020 additionally as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), shall continue to focus on the further implementation of Syntegon’s transformation projects. Likewise, Walter Bickel shall remain responsible for Human Resources, Supply Chain, Business & Project Excellence.
Cameroon’s annual cocoa production steadily increasing
Cameroon’s Office National du Cacao et du Cafe (ONCC) reported a total harvest of 295,163 t of cocoa beans in the 2021-2022 season.
Cocoa producers in the country are also being paid more for the commodity, according to ONCC figures. In the recent season, a kilogram of cocoa beans was sold at a maximum price of 1290 FCFA (circa USD 1.97), whereas in the 2020-2021 season, the maximum price for a kilogram of cocoa beans was 1210 FCFA (circa USD 1.83). Meanwhile, the minimum price has risen from 700 FCFA (circa USD 1.06) in the previous season to 750 FCFA (circa USD 1.14).
Cameroon is the world’s fourth largest producer of the commodity. The ONCC commented on the higher prices, saying it reflects the increasing demand for Cameroon’s cocoa. It has drawn funding for two brand-new processing plants, Neo Industry and Atlantic Cocoa, which are now operational alongside SIC Cacaos, a Barry Callebaut subsidiary.
Mondi opens laboratory that tests paper product recyclability
Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, opened the group’s first recycling laboratory at its Frantschach mill in Austria to test the recyclability of paper and paper-based packaging using non-paper components such as coatings.
While paper packaging offers many sustainability benefits, it also has certain barrier functionality limitations for products like perishable food. To enhance its functionality, non-paper components such as barrier coatings may need to be added, which in turn can impact recyclability.
The data collected at the laboratory can be used to improve existing products and provide reliable information about their environmental impact. The company will also use the results to determine how the design of new packaging can be improved as well as how best to improve the circularity of material flows. The tests are carried out on various paper and paper-based packaging products developed by Mondi and can determine whether the packaging can be efficiently recycled.
Packaging show interpack 2023: New exhibitor and product database is online
Search, find and be found: The exhibitor and product database for interpack 2023, which will take place in Düsseldorf from 4 to 10 May 2023, is now available.
interpack acts as a guidepost, since there are several challenges these industries have to meet: switching to digital processes, adapting previous packaging and process workflows to an even more sustainable strategy, new consumer habits and supply bottlenecks. For all of these, the approximately 2,700 exhibitors will offer possible solutions and consultations in the coming year. Exhibiting companies can present their businesses individually and introduce their contact persons at interpack and their product innovations in the exhibitor and product database in the run-up to the trade fair. The relaunch of the exhibitor profiles was rolled out in mid-July via all the Messe Düsseldorf online portals and boasts several new features.
The database gives visitors a better overview over exhibitors and the products they offer. The convenient sorting of products, a modern and clear design and the option to filter according to personal interests make this possible. The option of quickly making contact before the trade fair facilitates planning. In the run-up to interpack, the platform also offers the feature of saving preferred exhibitors, products and events in the “myOrganizer”.
ICCO increases forecast for 2021/2022 global cocoa deficit
In the latest quarterly bulletin of cocoa statistics for August 2022, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) revised its estimates for the 2021/22 cocoa year.
Most notably, the forecasted global deficit, previously set at 174,000 t, has now risen to an estimated 230,000 t. The primary cause of this deficit increase is attributed to Ghana’s steep decline in production, which dropped from a previous forecast of 800,000 t down to 689,000 t. Ghana, together with Ivory Coast, accounts for approximately 60 % of the global cocoa supply.
The poor performance of Ghana’s crop was slightly offset by the upward revisions in other cocoa-producing countries. Cameroon: 290,000 t up from 280,000 t, Nigeria: 280,000 t up from 270,000 t, Brazil: 220,000 t up from 210,000 t and Peru: 160,000 t up from 150,000 t. Ivory Coast’s forecasted production remains unchanged at 2.2 m t.
ICCO’s report showed that global grindings in 2021/22 were up by 23,000 t from the previous forecast, currently sitting at 5.07 m t.
Arla Foods offers solution to create indulgent bars with high protein content in every layer
Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) has developed a plug and play solution to help manufacturers create indulgent bars with high protein content in every layer.
Now, the company has launched a protein bar concept that allows brands to raise the protein content of every part of their bars – including the mass, filling and coating – without increasing size or compromising on taste or texture. The new recipe is based on high-quality whey and milk protein ingredients from the company’s Lacprodan range. It ensures that rich chocolate mass retains its flavour and softness throughout its shelf life and offers 30 % protein per bar, allowing for high-protein claims. As a “plug and play” solution, it can be used by brands as it is or as the basis for their formulations.
Puratos partners with Shiru to explore sustainable, plant-based protein ingredients for baked goods
Puratos, an industry leader in innovative food ingredients and services for the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors, announced a new partnership with Shiru, a functional ingredient company for the food industry.
Shiru’s discovery platform Flourish uses bioinformatics and machine learning to search through hundreds of millions of naturally-occurring proteins to identify promising candidates that match a specific desired food function – in this case, for use as ingredient(s) in baked goods. Using precision fermentation and high-throughput screening techniques, Shiru then produces these proteins in their lab and evaluates their performance as ingredients. The end result is an ingredient that can be produced sustainably at scale by Puratos to bring brand-new functionalities or to replace an animal-based product, without sacrificing taste or nutrition.
