Adeola, Others Sworn In As New CFAN Executives.

Posted on | 2023-07-07

The re-elected National President of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Comrade Adeola Adegoke at the celebration of 2nd Inauguration of National Working Committee of the Association, held on Thursday 6th July, 2023 At Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, highlighted some of the laudable achievements his leadership had achieved in the last four years that ended two days ago. He said, “Some of the achievements are: The celebration of 1st National Cocoa Farmers’ Day at Ibadan, Oyo State on the 7th October, 2019; Hosting of Cocoa Farmers’ Roundtable Conference across all Cocoa producing states centered on enlightenment, and good cocoa management practices for cocoa sustainability.”
“The First CBN-ABP loan disbursement to 1,221 Cocoa farmers at the sum of Seven Hundred and Twenty Three Million (N723,000,000) Naira only across all the cocoa producing states. They are: Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Cross-River, Edo, Delta, Abia and Kwara while the repayment is seriously ongoing; “Building of the National Secretariat of Cocoa Farmers’ Association of Nigeria known as CFAN HOUSE which is the first built commodity house in Nigeria; The celebration of 2nd Nigerian Cocoa Farmers’ Day at Abeokuta, Ogun State on the 28th October, 2021;
“Hosting of the Nigerian Cocoa Summit and Award at Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, Abuja on the 30th November, 2021 to 1st December, 2021 in collaboration with other value chain stakeholders; Production of first and second edition of Compendium on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) produced and distributed freely to all Cocoa Farmers across Nigeria written in English and Yoruba Languages respectively.”
“The celebration of the First National Cocoa Festival at the International Event Centre, THE DOME, Akure, Ondo State on the 13th October, 2022. The investiture of Ooni of Ife as the CFAN Grand Patron; Championing the establishment of National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC) by the immediate past Honourable Minister of Agriculture, saddled with the responsibility of the collection of $400 per ton for the smallholder cocoa farmers;
“I am delighted to welcome you to the 2nd Inauguration of National Working Committee of the Cocoa Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (CFAN); an umbrella body for the smallholder cocoa farmers of Nigeria. Let me use this opportunity to appreciate our Grand Patron, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, OJAJA II, Ooni of Ife, invited royal fathers, VIP guests who all counted us worthy, more importantly, our Keynote Speaker-Mr. Franklin Amoo; Member, Advisory Council to President Joe Biden on the ease of doing business in Africa, who travelled all the way from the United States of America (USA) to honour us today.
“Also, let me congratulate His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on his assumption of Office. I would like to use this auspicious occasion to appreciate the dynamic Governor of Ekiti State; His Excellency, Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji whose passion for development of Ekiti State has been demonstrated through his numerous robust policies geared towards transforming the agarian sector in the state. I believe your Excellency passion will propel the growth and development of the Cocoa sector to an enviable height before the end of your first term in Office.
“Let me also welcome the following representatives; OFI, Harvestfield, NEPC, CRIN, Government Representatives (Produce, Tree Crops & Cocoa Desk Officers), KOLETTI Cocoa, LIMAN Resources, Loom Chocolate and other value chains stakeholders.
“But, I will not end this without mentioning the attendance of our National Secretary, at All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), who is ably representing the National President Dr. Farouk Rabiu Mudi, in person of Dr. Yinusa Halidu (Sar’kin Noma of Mambila Kingdom). I pray that may the good Lord gives you journey mercies back to your different destinations,” the CFAN President said.

CFAN 2ND NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE

Posted on | 2023-06-12

The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria Inauguration Committee (CFAN) requests the presence of the populace to her 2nd National Working Committee with the theme: Renewed Hope: Rejuvenating Nigeria’s Cocoa Culture.
The event is scheduled to hold at the Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Old Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on the 6th July 2023 by 10:00 am.
The Keynote speaker for the event is Mr. Franklin Amoo; a member, of the Advisory Council to President Joe Biden on the Ease of doing business in Africa. His Excellency, Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji; the Executive Governor of Ekiti State is the Chief Host of the event.
Other dignitaries expected at the event are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR; His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; OJAJA II, Ooni of Ife and Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma is the Chairman of the Occasion.

CFAN TASKS TINUBU FOR THE ELEVATION OF COCOA INDUSTRY

Posted on | 2023-05-24

In order to revitalize the cocoa industry and give it back its proper place in the global market, the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) appealed to Tinubu for the elevation of the Cocoa Industry.

Adeola Adegoke, the National President of CFAN, made the appeal in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, shortly after he and 11 other candidates were chosen to lead the association for an additional four years.

Cocoa farmers, according to Adegoke, would have high expectations of Tinubu but would cooperate with the government to enact regulations.

The CFAN President also made it clear that the organization would work to have a board established that would be in charge of purchasing cocoa as well as making sure farmers were given the tools they needed to advance the industry
.
He declared: \"Our goal is to raise productivity per hectare and become the world\'s top producer of cocoa. We will cooperate with Tinubu to see that the National Cocoa Management Committee established by Buhari is strengthened and given the enabling National Assembly Acts necessary to promote investment in the industry, strengthen the research system, and provide our farmers with input subsidies.

When compared to cocoa, investments in rice and other commodities are not comparable. The highest foreign exchange rate in the nation is still from cocoa. Our farmers\' current income is intolerable.

Our farmers are getting poorer, as we can see. We have observed that the quality once associated with the cocoa industry in Nigeria no longer exists.
We lack more effective sustainable practices. In most of the states that produce cocoa, the emphasis on dedication to expanding the cocoa economy is no longer present.

\"We cannot accept the current system, which is devoid of any system. There will be a social revolution to show that returning to high-quality coca production and broad-based farmer empowerment are the only ways to bring wealth to our states. Together with the incoming administration, we will cooperate.

Cocoa Farmers Reelect Adegoke As National President.

Posted on | 2023-05-19

After putting in a strong showing during his first term in office, Comrade Adeola Adegoke has been reelected as the National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN).
Adeola was elected without opposition by the association\'s National Delegates\' Conference, which was held at its National Secretariat in Akure. The other national officers of the association were also elected without opposition.
Adeola Adegoke, the association\'s national president (from Ondo State), Olagunju Aina, its vice president (from Kwara State), Agbor Bassey, its national secretary (from Cross Rivers), Elube Ogigbo Joel, its national treasurer (from Ogun State), Oloyede Ezekiel, its financial secretary (from Kwara State), Makanjuola Akinyele, the association\'s PRO (from Ekiti State and Sarafat Olayemi (Oyo State), the organizing secretary.
In addition, Auditor 2 Kazeem Tijani (Edo State), Assistant Secretary Ayeni Iyabo (Ondo State), Assistant Financial Secretary Raji Sarafa Ariyo (Oyo State), and Assistant Organising Secretary Uche Mmeregini (Abia State) were chosen, while Auditor 1 Raji Akanni (Osun State) was chosen.
Comrade Adeola Adegoke, the newly elected National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), which represents over 90% of Nigeria\'s small-scale cocoa farmers and stakeholders, urged the incoming Bola Tinubu administration to give top priority to policies that would advance the sector in the nation, much like the late Sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo did in the old western region.
Adegoke stated that the association would oppose any effort to completely deregulate the cocoa industry.
The president of CFAN noted that the complete deregulation of the cocoa sector resulted in farmer fraud, low productivity, and the production of subpar cocoa beans.
Adegoke stated that although cocoa farmers had high expectations for Tinubu\'s administration, they would cooperate with it to enact regulations.
He said they would work to create a Board that wouldn\'t purchase cocoa but would make sure farmers received the support they needed and grow the cocoa industry.
In his words, \"We have seen that we don\'t have better sustainable practices and we have seen that the focus of commitment to grow the cocoa economy in the most cocoa producing states is no longer there again. Many of us farmers cannot return to farming because of the government\'s nonchalant attitude toward the federal and state governments. In order to ensure that the farmers have access to the inputs they need to restore Nigeria, we will push for establishing a board that will begin developing cocoa.
The goal of this association is to raise productivity over the next two to three years and become the world\'s top producer of cocoa.

\"We will work with the government to make sure that the National Cocoa Management puts in place the enabling environment that will spur the regulations on the development of the cocoa economy, which will bring back more investment in the sectors.\"
In Nigeria, Ondo, Cross River, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Delta, Osun, and Oyo are the principal cocoa-producing states.
Other states include Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Kogi, and Benue.

CFAN Holds 1st National Cocoa Festival

Posted on | 2022-10-17

Stakeholders and Farmers from Cocoa producing States in Nigeria have converged in Akure, the Ondo State Capital for the First National Cocoa Festival organised by the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, CFAN.

The festival which is carnival like was attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammad Abubakar as well as his Industry, Trade & Investment Counterpart, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and representatives of key stakeholders such as the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, (CAN) and International Cocoa Organization, (ICCO).

The theme of the festival which was held at the International Event Centre is; “STAKEHOLDERS’ COLLABORATION TO MAKE NIGERIA COCOA INDUSTRY SUSTAINABLE”.
In an address, the National President of CFAN, Comrade Adeola Adegoke noted that the power of collaboration and partnership being enjoyed in the industry today, gave birth to the program.

Adegoke said, “It is important to improve the livelihood of smallholder cocoa Farmers in Nigeria through finance, production, productivity, training, workshops, improved infrastructure in our cocoa communities, planet protection and sustainable eco system cocoa practices in partnership with the cocoa supply chain stakeholders which motivated us to gold the 1st Nigeria Cocoa Farmers Day at tbr International Conference Center, University of Ibadan, Oyo State on the 18th of October, 2019”.

“However, the need to create an inclusiveness amongst the cocoa value chain stakeholders and considering our national interest and the International demand for a sustainable cocoa that takes into consideration our planet Earth and the livelihood of our smallholder cocoa farmers across the cocoa industry informed our decision to collaborate and change the theme to “National Cocoa Festival” in this year 2022. This is to give all players in the sector the ownership and partnership to achieve our national collective goal that transcends across the entire cocoa value chain in Nigeria.

“Let me use this medium to inform our stakeholders, distinguished guests and great cocoa farmers that the Association will commence the process of the enumeration/bio -data collection of all the cocoa farmers in Nigeria. This task will be done in collaboration with our cocoa value chain stakeholders across the cocoa producing states and our cocoa communities traditional rules.

“We believe that after the completion of the enumeration exercise, it will enable our investors, policy makers, researchers, the Academia, merchants, exporters, buyers etc, to know all the information they need about our cocoa bean, cocoa plantation environment, inputs/GAP, sizes, cocoa variety, sex, gender, labour parameter, ecosystem compliance activities in our cocoa plantations”.

“The Theme of this event was deliberately chosen in order to address our peculiar challenges as a cocoa origin producer and value chain stakeholders, in the face of the emerging due diligence standard in the international markets viz-a-viz traceability issues”.

Adegoke appreciated the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for his giant strides in the State. His words, “Ondo State is not just leading by accident in cocoa production and cocoa activities, but relentless efforts of our generational cocoa farmers, past administrations efforts, stakeholders’ contributions and in particular, the numerous interventions of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN in the areas of free seedlings provision in the last few years.”

US Announces $22 Million Project To Improve Cocoa.

Posted on | 2022-09-28

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress programme has entered into a cooperative agreement with Lutheran World Relief to strengthen the cocoa value chain in Nigeria.

The project, which is worth approximately $22 million and will be implemented over the next five years. The primary objective of the Food for Progress project is to increase cocoa productivity by leveraging climate-smart agricultural measures.

In addition, the project will support improved access to inputs, technical resources, capacity, post-harvest processing, and export markets.

Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Mission Nigeria, Gerald Smith, explained that the project will employ an approach that enables farmers to not only produce more cocoa and preserve the land’s fertility and biodiversity, but also realise an important triple bottom line of people, profit, and the planet.

“Food for Progress programme is the cornerstone of United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service international capacity-building efforts with the principal objectives of improving agricultural productivity and expanding trade of agricultural products,” Smith said.

Over the years, Food for Progress projects have trained farmers in animal and plant health, improved farming methods, developed road and utility systems, established producer cooperatives, provided microcredit, and developed agricultural value chains.

Lutheran World Relief will carry out project activities in Abia, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Osun states – benefitting approximately 68,000 farmers. In particular, the project will target farmers in low productivity but highly promising areas, as well as farmers in high-density, high-productivity communities.

The Foreign Agricultural Service is the overseas arm of the United States Department of Agriculture. It offers a variety of services to American and Nigerian agribusiness companies, and government and non-government entities involved in agricultural trade and development. Through a variety of programmes, the service helps developing countries strengthen sustainable agricultural practices by providing capacity-building opportunities.

Staffed with dedicated agri-business specialists, the Foreign Agricultural Service works closely with Nigerian partners to assist Nigeria to improve agricultural productivity, food distribution, food security and trade.

INAUGURATION OF COMMITTEE ON LID

Posted on | 2022-08-11

The Federal Government Inaugurates National Cocoa Management Committee as Nigeria begins new cocoa revolution.

The Federal Government on Tuesday, disclosed that cocoa farmers will benefit from Living Income Differential (LID) of $400 per tonne along with counterparts in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

This was made known by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, in a keynote address during inauguration of 11-man National Cocoa Management Committee, NCMC, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Abubakar tasked the newly inaugurated NCMC as part of its terms of reference on urgent draft charter for the operations of NCMC which will enable an Executive Bill to be forwarded to the National Assembly for legal backing.

He explained that the inauguration is the culmination of enormous collective efforts based on a recent visit by some officials from his Ministry to one of the largest world cocoa producing and exporting countries, Ghana to study the implementation of Living Income Differential, LID.

According to him, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire introduced the Living Income Differential, LID, as a premium on their cocoa and as tool to complement their prices of cocoa in international market. He said Nigeria cannot wait to join Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, and in order to work out modalities for Nigerian cocoa farmers to start benefitting from this initiative like their counterparts in Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire, this committee is being set up. Cocoa farmers will benefit from Living Income Differential (LID) of $400 per tonne along with counterparts in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

This was made known by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, in a keynote address during inauguration of 11-man National Cocoa Management Committee, NCMC, at the Ministry.

However, the Minister highlighted challenges in the cocoa industry the Committee is expected to tackle which include; pest and diseases, logistics such as rural roads and infrastructure, old Cocoa plantations, ageing Cocoa farmers, processing, access to finance, environmental concerns such as deforestation, climate change and absence of a National Coordinating body.

The Committee is made up of Chairman, ENGR Adbullahi Garba ABUBAKAR, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja; Secretary, Dr Patrick Adebola, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, Ibadan; Member, Olutobaba Ajayi, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Member, Ibrahim Mohammed, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Member, S.O. G Tuayeringha, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Member, James Oyesola, Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State; Member, Williams Ifere, Ministry of Agriculture, Cross River State; Member, Prince Martins Awofisayo, Harvestfields Industry Limited; Members, Adeola Adegoke, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria; Member, Muktar Bolarinwa, Cocoa Association of Nigeria; and member, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. He said: “The purpose of this is to increase the share benefits received by cocoa farmers in these countries. The minister outlined the duties of the NCMC to to the committee.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee who also doubles as Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, FDA, Engr Abdullahi Abubakar, said the Committee is commencing their assignment immediately, and it would start with drafting a Nigerian Cocoa Charter, which will be a prerequisite to join Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire Initiative.

He added that the leadership of the Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire Initiative will see what the Committee has done by September 2022, and based on this the whole of August would be used to ensure the Nigeria Cocoa Charter is ready.

He also said there will be value addition in terms of processing, and the Ministry is supporting the cocoa value chain from beginning to end, hence no need to export raw cocoa to the international market.

Nigeria Govt. Has Expressed Interest To Implement LID

Posted on | 2022-05-25

Nigerian government joins the race to effect the Living Income Differential (LID) of $400 on every tonne of cocoa beans sold to enhance farmers’ livelihood with Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
The Director for Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar, who led a team to the Ghana Cocoa Board, said the move would help in boosting the income of the smallholer Cocoa farmers.

The delegation met the officials of the COCOBOD in Ghana to examine the operations of the LID as designed to smallholder Cocoa farmers in Ghana.

Mr. Abubakar, who read the speech on behalf of Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Nigeria’s unregulated and liberalized Cocoa Industry, was depriving small holder farmers of yearly revenues as they were unable to collect the LID.

The LID system which was established by Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana in 2019 is set to be the Cocoa Markets Organisation of Africa and if fully implemented in the region can be compared to the organisation of petroleum exporting countries where prices of cocoa will be regulated.”

“Nigeria being lined up to join the LID system will also guarantee that the premium charged in the $100 billion Chocolate Industry will help in boosting the income of the small holder farmers,” he added.

Reacting on the interest the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, said some structures ought to be put in place for the LID to work in Nigeria.

He said while Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire implemented a centralised regulatory system, trading and marketing in Nigeria were done by individual private companies without any centralised regulation.

“This makes it difficult for the LID to flow smoothly to the farmers because the LID ought to be given in total farmer. But where there is no control, it becomes difficult to ensure compliance of the flow,” Mr Aidoo said.

Besides, Nigeria must also join the Ghana Cote d’Ivoire Cocoa Initiative, sign the Cocoa Charter and ensure its promulgation by the national assembly to be able to benefit from the initiative.

He said Nigeria coming on board would present a formidable force and a stronger say in the market in determining prices.

Cocoa Farmers Desire To Increase The Cocoa Production.

Posted on | 2022-05-25

The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, CFAN during the Flagging-off of the free distribution of the Cocoa GAP Handbook held at Idayat Hall, Ijebu-Ode on 16th May, 2022 desires to increase the country cocoa production by 80% organic which will make the country to be the highest sustainable cocoa producing country in the world during the distribution of Free GAP Handbook to the Ogun State Chapter of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria.

The President of the Association; Comrade Adeola Adegoke dropped the hint during the delivery of his speech, he said, “the launching of the free distribution of Cocoa GAP Handbook across the entire cocoa producing states and Ogun State today will mark Nigeria path to sustainable cocoa production and good agronomic practices in the cocoa supply chain ahead of other cocoa producing countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia. Our focus is to become the highest sustainable cocoa producing country in the World in the year 2027 with 80 per cent organic cocoa production bean\". He stated that, the feet of 80 per cent organic cocoa production would be unprecedented when achieved in the world cocoa production history.

\"We intend to partner with our value chain stakeholders to increase from the current 10 per cent to 50 per cent our locally processed beans and value addition before export, in order to generate more employment opportunities, more foreign exchange earnings, improved living income of our cocoa farmers via the collection of better pricing, LID and sustainable improved infrastructure around the cocoa communities.”

Furthermore, he made mentioned that the Association in partnership with Harvestfield Industries Limited (CFAN Biggest Partner) , Cocoa Research Institute(CRIN), EBAFOSA, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment are working towards the protection of human rights, remediation and conserving our environment in cocoa communities and plantations.

This is, in response to the EU due diligence framework on child labor eradication and deforestation free cocoa beans production. He went further to mention some of the importance of the GAP Handbook and its effect, if put to correct use in the Cocoa Industry.

CFAN and other value chain partners are currently committed to support a sustainable living income of our smallholder cocoa farmers through the collection of $400 Living Income Differential (LID). Nigeria is regarded to be losing over #60 billion annually for our non-collection of this LID for our cocoa farmers above the floor cocoa price or the International selling cocoa price rate. The facilitation and collection of this LID fund being championed by CFAN are being made possible by the support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and other value chain partners with the support of the Ghana Cocoa Board.

The Cocoa Supply Chain: From Farmer To Consumer II

Posted on | 2022-04-30

4. Sourcing and Marketing (Continuation).

Sometimes, cocoa beans are sold directly to exporters by cooperatives, or even directly exported. Direct sourcing enhances traceability, proximity, trust, and efficiency in the supply chain.

Step 5

Packing and Shipment

Once cocoa beans have been graded and loaded into cargo vessels, they are shipped either in new jute bags or in bulk. In recent years, shipment of cocoa beans in bulk has been growing in popularity because it can be up to one third cheaper than conventional shipment in jute bags. Loose cocoa beans are loaded either in shipping containers or directly into the hold of the ship, the so-called “mega-bulk” method. The latter mode is often adopted by larger cocoa processors.

Step 6

Processing: Roasting and Grinding

The processing stage typically encompasses roasting and grinding of cocoa beans. In the past, these operations were performed almost entirely in importing countries, but, nowadays, origin countries are also increasingly engaged in processing.

Cocoa is roasted to reduce water content and to obtain rich aromas and flavor from the beans. This can be done on the whole beans before shelling (i.e. bean roasting), or on the nib after shelling (i.e. nib roasting). Sometimes, the removed shell that covers the nibs is sold and used as agricultural mulch or by fertilizer producers. After the beans are roasted, they undergo other processes, including alkalization, which makes semi-finished cocoa products darker and reduces their acidity. The time and temperature for roasting the beans are key determinants of the flavor of the semi-finished products.

After the beans have been shelled and roasted, the nibs are ground to produce fine cocoa liquor under high temperatures. The cocoa liquor may be used directly as an ingredient for chocolate. Otherwise, it is pressed through a fine sieve or by using extraction solvents to obtain cocoa butter, leaving a solid material called cocoa cake or press cake. The extracted cocoa butter is then filtered and stored in tanks in liquid form for use in chocolate manufacturing. The cake is either broken into smaller pieces and sold in generic cocoa markets or pulverized to produce a fine cocoa powder. Cocoa cake generally varies in terms of the fat content, depending how much fat has been pressed out. This determines the end use, ranging from drinking chocolate to bakery products.

Step 7

Manufacturing and Distribution

To create chocolate, cocoa liquor and butter are mixed with inputs such as sugar, vanilla, emulsifying agents, and milk. They then undergo a refining process through a series of rollers. An additional process called conching may be performed, ranging from a few hours to several days to further develop the flavor and texture. The resulting mixture, often called “couverture”, is shipped in tanks in liquid or solid form, or it is tempered and poured into molds for use by confectioners and bakers. In some cases, ‘couverture’ chocolate is used in-house to produce consumer products.

Step 8

Retail

The final step of the cocoa supply chain includes packaging, commercial marketing, and retailing. Chocolate products are sold through grocery stores wholesalers, and online. Furthermore, some chocolate manufacturers have their own branded retail stores to capture a larger consumer base. Chocolate retailing markets can be categorized by types (i.e. dark, milk, or white chocolate) or by sales categories, including every day, premium, or seasonal chocolate. Each category provides specific market opportunities.

Compiled by
World Cocoa Foundation
www.worldcocoafoundation.org