Several news outlets reported today that ADM, one of the largest commodity brokers in the world, has acquired Germany’s Schokinag, one of the largest European makers of chocolate and cocoa powder. “This acquisition will be an excellent fit for our business as we continue to enhance our global presence across the entire cocoa and chocolate value chain,” said ADM’s Cocoa and Milling vice president Bemis. Continue reading “Concentration of the Chocolate Industry Continues”
World Cocoa Foundation Announces Sustainability Principles
The World Cocoa Foundation, an entity created by the chocolate industry and cocoa trading companies, announced today its sustainability principles and goals. The foundation was created in 2000 to address farming practices in cocoa producing countries. But I can’t shake the suspicion that its creation was also part of the industry response to the reports of child labor and child slavery on cocoa farms in West Africa. Its practice bears out that suspicion. The WCF does more publicity when it comes to child labor than the International Cocoa Initiative, which was mandated by the Harkin-Engel protocol.
Continue reading “World Cocoa Foundation Announces Sustainability Principles”
Côte d’Ivoire Elections will be delayed again
Just as Ghana celebrated its second real transition of power to President John Atta Mills, its neighbor, the Côte d’Ivoire, continues to struggle with preparations for the long delayed election. The country has yet to settle the divisions that caused the 2002-03 civil war and despite the support of the United Nations, the preparations for country-wide elections have not made much progress.
Continue reading “Côte d’Ivoire Elections will be delayed again”
Ghana inaugurates New President
The world’s second largest cocoa producing country yesterday celebrated the inauguration of its new president, John Atta Mills. The event marked the end of the John Kufuor’s presidency which lasted two four-year terms. The initial election last December ended inconclusive since neither Mills nor his opponent Akufo-Addo received the necessary 50 percent of the vote. The runoff election on December 28 was extremely close–50.23 percent for Mills vs. 49.77 pecent for Akufo-Addo.
Where is Cocoa Processed?
I’ve written earlier about a new cocoa processing plant being opened in Ghana. Processing refers to roasting, winnowing, cracking and grinding the cocoa beans. It also can include pressing the cocoa to extract cocoa butter and produce cocoa powder.
To the left is a breakdown of the top ten cocoa processing countries for the last cocoa year. Despite the preponderance of industrial countries at the top, there is a solid presence of cocoa producers among the top ten countries.
