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Cocoa plantation owner KKO International has raised EUR 3.8 m as part of a plan to enable it to build a “tree-to-bar” chocolate production unit in Abidjan/Ivory Coast. The company operates one of the largest cocoa plantations in the world in Ivory Coast. The group said its approach combines “innovative practices aimed at sustainable agriculture and an environmentally and socially responsible way of farming.”

Positioned as both a natural sweetener and a flavouring, Dirafrost’s new cacao fruit puree is made from the white pulp surrounding cacao beans – which are typically destined for chocolate production. Dirafrost is part of the Austria-based Agrana Group.

As the demand for cacao products rises, methods that utilize the whole of the cacao fruit are also growing. These are increasingly highlighted as the sustainable way forward.

After centrifuging the total content of the cacao fruit pod, the cacao beans are distracted from the white pulp surrounding them. The beans are destined for chocolate production, and the white pulp becomes the cacao fruit puree. The mashing (pulp) process consists of a specific and controlled heat treatment that provides the necessary microbiological guarantees without affecting the taste, nor the natural colour of the puree. This process ensures the puree’s purity, meaning it is free of additives, preservatives and added sugar.

The method also utilizes a part of the cacao fruit that is normally destined to become waste. In the normal chocolate creating process, about 70 percent of the fruit is typically discarded.

Caldic B. V. is acquiring Arlès Agroalimentaire SAS, a distributor of quality food ingredients and functional additives in France. T he agreement marks Caldic’s expansion of its European footprint by entering the French food ingredients sector. Caldic says this latest addition is “a great fit” to the company’s current business in the European Bakery, Dairy, Beverage, Savoury, Confectionary and Nutrition markets.

Arlès Agroalimentaire is a family business that has been engaged in the distribution of food ingredients since 1914. Throughout the years, it has grown to become a key distributor in the French food ingredients market, serving more than 900 customers with a broad product portfolio. With Arlès’ wide range of food ingredients and functional additives, including starches, emulsifiers, flavours, colours, proteins and sweeteners, Caldic has become one of the top players in the French food ingredients market.

Givaudan has released its nine-month financials report, outlining a 6.4 % rise in sales this year on a like-for-like basis. Within its Flavour Division, the Swiss flavour house highlighted increases in sales in its Asia Pacific, European, African Latin American and Middle Eastern markets, while noting a dip in North American sales. As part of the company’s 2020 strategy, Givaudan is seeking to further expand its business with targeted acquisitions.

In the first nine months of 2019, Givaudan recorded sales of CHF 4.7 bn, an increase of 6.4 % on a like-for-like basis and 14.5 % in CHF. Flavour Division sales were CHF 2.6 bn, an increase of 4.6 % on a like-for-like basis and an increase of 17.4 % in CHF. Fragrance Division sales were CHF 2.1 bn, an increase of 8.5 % on a like-for-like basis and an increase of 11.2 % in CHF.

As part of the company’s 2020 strategy, Givaudan is seeking to create value through targeted acquisitions, which complement its existing capabilities. Since 2014, Givaudan has completed thirteen acquisitions.

Despite more challenging growth conditions, Chr. Hansen delivers a strong EBIT margin and a healthy cash flow, while also making significant progress on key strategic priorities. CEO Mauricio Graber says: “2018/19 was a solid year for Chr. Hansen, although it was not without its challenges as tougher market conditions especially in emerging markets made it more difficult to grow to the level of our ambition. We ended the year with 7 % organic growth for the group, at the low end of the guidance provided in June. However, we are satisfied that we delivered well on the financial targets for EBIT margin and free cash flow that we set at the beginning of the year, with EBIT margin before special items reaching 29.6 % and 17 % growth in free cash flow before acquisitions and special items.”

For the full year, Food Cultures & Enzymes delivered solid organic growth of 8 %, while Health & Nutrition delivered 9 % and Natural Colours delivered 3 %. In Q4, organic growth came down as expected for all three business areas, as the company continued to see macroeconomic challenges in emerging markets, primarily impacting Food Cultures & Enzymes and Natural Colours.

In the first half of the current 2019/2020 fiscal year (1 March to 31 August 2019), Südzucker AG achieved group consolidated revenues of € 3.314 (previous year: 3.475) bn. While the sugar segment’s revenues fell sharply, the fruit segment’s were slightly below last year's level and the special products and CropEnergies segments’ rose.

The consolidated group operating result dropped as expected significantly to € 74 (previous year: 139) m, driven mainly by the sugar segment losses: revenues fell sharply to € 1.121 (previous year: 1.389) bn. According to the company, the decline was driven by low sales revenues and significantly lower volumes due to the reduced 2018 harvest. The sugar segment's operating loss of € - 93 (previous year: 3) m had been predicted. The main causes were the EU sugar market price level, which did not cover costs, and sharply lower sales volumes due to the drought-driven weaker 2018 harvest.

The decline reported by the fruit segment was more than offset by improved results reported by the special products and CropEnergies segments.

Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging Expo hit an unprecedented trifecta this year, breaking records for number of exhibitors, total exhibit space and total attendees, according to show owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. By the show’s close, preliminary numbers reveal that more than 2,000 exhibitors covering nearly 900,000 net square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center convened with over 31,000 attendees; an 8 % increase from the 2017 show. The new Robotics Zone was consistently busy as tens of thousands of attendees flocked to the North Hall to see the interactive robotic and cobot displays, including local news outlets.

The next event in the Pack Expo portfolio is Pack Expo East (3 to 5 March 2020, Philadelphia). Now in its fourth edition, the three-day event will feature 400 exhibiting companies and span 100,000 net square feet, providing the opportunity for attendees to exchange ideas with 7,000 peers.

The main cocoa crop in Ivory Coast, the season for which runs from October to March, is expected to be as large as last year’s crop, making the overall crop a record-breaking one. Commerzbank Research said that, thanks to good weather in recent weeks, respondents to a survey estimate the 2019/20 main crop at around 1.7 m t, compared with the 1.58 m t estimated in July. The figure achieved last year was 1.66 m t.

Together with the mid-crop that has been underway since April, Ivorian cocoa production is set to reach a new record of 2.22 m t in 2018/19, according to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO). This would equate to almost half of global production.