Choco Tec draws the 2024 international event calendar to a close in style
Cologne’s much-anticipated Choco Tec event in Cologne came to a notable conclusion today, with warnings from major market players including Barry Callebaut and analyst group, Euromonitor, that cocoa prices were likely to remain comparatively high for some time.
The industry is clearly continuing to experience an extended period of turbulence, which is being felt right through the supply chains, as those on the agricultural frontline of the sector have seen few of the financial rewards reaped from the crops’ elevated values.
This very point was made very eloquently by Puratos at the event, as David Deblauwe of the business revealed what he revealed was ‘a life-changing’ moment when he saw for his own eyes in Ivory Coast, that the future of the cocoa industry rests in the hands of the country’s young people – if they cannot afford to go into a sector that presently pays farmers below UN-defined poverty levels, then it will face terminal decline.
While cocoa alternatives are growing in popularity as an emerging concept, conventional cocoa supplies remain in high demand – with disease and climate-impacted crops depleted yields suffering a deficit in volume supply that has pushed up values further once again.
This was of course far from the only major subject to come under the microscope, with the event focusing on a significant amount of technical issues relating to production and supply chains within the industry, as it continues to navigate uncertain times.
Among the standout presentations was a tech-focus from German confectionery machinery business, WDS, which explored how the firm is actively utilising AI with management of its machinery, and wider systems, which the company asserted would yield huge potential in the coming years if used correctly, and with caution within some areas of business.
Another intriguing presentation came from ETH Zurich, on how methods are being applied to deliver sustainable cocoa through using the entire cocoa fruit for commercial purposes, which it has been partnering with Swiss start-up Koa, to great effect over the past couple of years.
Furthermore, we also heard from ‘alt-choc’ emerging enterprises including Planet A, fresh from claiming award honours at our World Confectionery Conference, as well as NuKoko, using fava beans as a cocoa alternative, which again, may well help breach the gap in overall cocoa supplies that is presently causing the wider sector a considerable issue.
There were also significant policy matters on the table, ranging from European packaging laws coming through, as well as the much-discussed EUDR, which came under the spotlight in a presentation from the BDSI, exploring just how small and medium-sized businesses will be affected from the landmark legislation.
Overall, this was another finely staged event that offered some superb networking alongside its equipment and ingredients exhibitors who formed another valuable element of the show, which has nearly set the stage for an imminent return to Cologne in the New Year for ISM and ProSweets. These key shows are already in the final stages of preparation and will no doubt herald some fascinating times ahead for the wider industry.
Neill Barston, editor, Confectionery Production
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