Sustainable cocoa alternative named innovation of the year at ISM

By: Tisza Andrea Date: 2024. 03. 21. 12:11

ISM, the confectionery industry’s No.1 international event, took place on 28-31 January 2024. Held in Cologne, ISM has once again proved to be the pinnacle of the global confectionery and snacks industry, with 1,427 exhibitors from 74 countries highlighting their new products to around 30,000 visitors from 140 countries.

This article is available for reading in Trade magazin 2024/2-3

New trends…

Trend-wise ISM has shown the importance consumers place on health and enjoyment, as well as their increasing demand for products made sustainably from sustainable ingredients. Healthier snacks – such as protein-rich or low-sugar sweets – are becoming more dominant, but manufacturers are also increasingly using sustainably grown, natural ingredients. The event also saw upcycling as a progressive production process. Creative ideas for fortifying sweets with fibre reflected the continuing conquest of plant-based products and ingredients. As for chocolate, companies are focusing on features such as Fair Trade, lower sugar content, veganism and unusual flavours.

…new products

At the New Product Showcase, the premier event of the fair in all aspects, the winner of the innovation competition – judged by a panel of independent experts – was the sustainable cocoa alternative “ChoViva” from Planet A Foods GmbH in Germany, which offers a cocoa-free chocolate taste experience. ChoViva tastes similar to traditional chocolate, but has a significantly lower carbon footprint. The runner-up was Gudrun Commercial NV’s “UPPA Cacaofruit Bites” from Belgium, a product made with cocoa fruit pulp.