THE INGREDIENTS SHOW

Growing single origin trend to ‘transform Colombia through chocolate’

10-Apr-2019 - Last updated on 28-Sep-2021 at 13:24 GMT

Single origin chocolate is attracting strong sales and high product satisfaction among consumers. For ingredient suppliers, this presents an opportunity to give back to the rural communities growing the commodity. FoodNavigator caught up with an analyst, a cocoa company and a chocolate manufacturer to find out more.

“Single Origin is a growing trend,” head of market insights at Lumina Intelligence, Ewa Hudson, told FoodNavigator when we caught up at The Ingredients Show in Birmingham this week.

UK aside, the analyst has also observed the trend “in a number of other western markets, where consumers really appreciate the value of products promoting single origin”.

Single origin chocolate, whereby chocolate is made from cocoa sourced in one single ‘origin’ or region, can lead to higher product satisfaction among consumers – compared to conventional products.

“We also see that these products allow manufacturers to charge higher prices,” she continued.

This price differential can be used to fund sustainable farming activities in cultivation areas, as well as initiatives aimed at improving education standards and livelihood.

Luker Chocolate, the international arm of Casa Luker, is doing just that. “We’re looking to transform Colombia through chocolate through targeted, impactful investment and productive reforestation,” explained European sales manager Paul Morris.

Luker Chocolate’s 15-point initiative, The Chocolate Dream, is helping to fund a number of education and infrastructure initiatives in these areas.

“The key is empathy here, we have to understand better the needs and the wants of the people who live and work in our rural communities,” Morris continued.

Working our way along the supply chain, FoodNavigator spoke with John Panchaud, sales manager at Montrose Chocolate Ventures.

The UK firm, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent, entered into a strategic supply agreement with Luker Chocolate in 2016 for all of its offerings, including its Danny’s, Benefit Chocolate and Cox&Co ranges.

Using single origin chocolate from Luker allows Montrose to deliver a sustainable and ethical product to its customers, said Panchaud.

“People are looking for a more niche product, an artisan product. People are looking for a product with more ethics and sustainability in mind.

“We saw that trend coming.”