SCHIPHOL, THE NETHERLANDS — To meet the growing demand for sustainable global confectionery products, Cargill announced it will be the exclusive B2B global distributor for Voyage Foods, a food technology company that manufacturers a clean label, plant-based cocoa-free chocolate.
“Cargill is proud to partner with Voyage Foods, investing in the next generation of even more sustainable food solutions,” said Inge Demeyere, managing director of bakery, ice cream and chocolate confectionery Europe at Cargill. “We want to be our customers’ main source of inspiration and growth, setting new standards for innovating and collaborating. To do this, we’re anticipating future trends by focusing on exciting, high-value categories such as ice cream, sweet bakery and chocolate confectionery.”
The commercial partnership will help expand Cargill’s traditional chocolate portfolio to include sustainable alternatives for cocoa-based products that can be used in various applications, including baked goods. The move aligns with the consumer trends the ingredient supplier shared in its “Sweet Delight — Decoding Consumer Bakery Decisions” survey, which polled 1,200 US consumers about what drives their purchasing decisions when it comes to cakes, pastries and cookies.
“Voyage Foods has always been focused on solving human and environmental health challenges through food,” said Adam Maxwell, founder and CEO of Voyage Foods. “The best way to accomplish this is by supplying the world’s food brands and manufacturers with our impactful ingredients. Partnering with Cargill, a leader in the food industry for over 100 years, is the perfect way to scale these solutions globally to offer food manufacturers the ability to integrate cocoa-free confectionery and spreads, produced with no nut or dairy allergens used in the recipe formulation, into their portfolios. Together, we’re amplifying our impact on people and the planet.”
The addition of Voyage Foods’ offerings expands Cargill’s range of solutions that are vegan and label-friendly.
“Alternatives to cocoa-based products are a great accompaniment to the traditional chocolate solutions that Cargill offers its customers,” Demeyere continued. “This partnership is just one of the many ways that we are future-proofing our portfolio and meeting consumer demands and market regulations when it comes to even more sustainable options.”
The cocoa-free confectionery range will be available first in Europe, with other global regions to follow.
