The Professional Manufacturing Confectioners Association (PMCA) hosted a chocolate short course at the University of California-Davis last month to increase its presence on the West Coast.

Cocoa organizations in Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana are reviewing the status of all cocoa sustainability and certification programs to put greater emphasis on implementing the living income differential the countries established in July.

Barry Callebaut Group has launched two varieties of chocolate sweetened with cacaofruit as part of its mission to advance cocoa sustainability and drive innovation in the category.

Flexible plastic pouches and bags are playing an increasingly important role in the strong global growth of confectionery packaging.

Bensdorp, a Barry Callebaut premium cocoa brand, has introduced Natural Dark, a 100% natural dark cocoa powder with a superior taste experience. 

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has announced Bill Bond, a veteran food industry sales executive, is joining the company as v.p. of global sales. 

The Barry Callebaut Group has broken ground for its new chocolate and compound manufacturing facility in Baramati, India.

Bosch will sell its entire packaging machinery business to a newly incorporated entity managed by Luxembourg private investment firm CVC Capital Partners.

Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire have agreed to institute a per-tonne “living income differential” as part of a new payment structure designed to fortify incomes of the countries’ cocoa producers.