XTEMOS ELEMENT
POST ELEMENT STYLE MASONRY
09
Jun
VOLATILITY IN COCOA PRICES AND ITS IMPACT
In recent months, the global cocoa market has witnessed unprecedented price volatility, capturing the attention of industry and consumers alike. On April 2024, cocoa prices soared to a historic high of $11,206 per metric ton, a stark contrast to the $4,275 per metric ton seen just six months prior. This dramatic fluctuation reflects a complex interplay of factors influencing the cocoa industry and implications.
Understanding these price fluctuations is crucial. The change in cocoa prices conditions the entire supply chain: farmers in cocoa-producing regions, chocolate companies, and end consumers purchasing chocolate products.
Factors contributing to cocoa price volatility
El Niño phenomenon and crop diseases
The El Niño weather pattern has significantly disrupted cocoa production in major producing countries. Characterised by high temperatures and low humidity, El Niño conditions have severely impacted cocoa harvests in regions like Ivory Coast and Ghana, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s cocoa supply. The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) reported that arrivals at Ivorian and Ghanaian ports were down 28% and 35%, respectively, compared to the same period last season.
Adding to the challenges posed by El Niño, ICCO (2024) reports crop diseases such as the swollen shoot virus have devastated...
27
Feb
Choc Amor shortlisted for a Red Rose Award
27
Feb
Choc Amor exports to Japan
XTEMOS ELEMENT
POST ELEMENT STYLE MASK ON IMAGE
09
Jun
VOLATILITY IN COCOA PRICES AND ITS IMPACT
In recent months, the global cocoa market has witnessed unprecedented price volatility, capturing the attention of industry and consumers alike. On April 2024, cocoa prices soared to a historic high of $11,206 per metric ton, a stark contrast to the $4,275 per metric ton seen just six months prior. This dramatic fluctuation reflects a complex interplay of factors influencing the cocoa industry and implications.
Understanding these price fluctuations is crucial. The change in cocoa prices conditions the entire supply chain: farmers in cocoa-producing regions, chocolate companies, and end consumers purchasing chocolate products.
Factors contributing to cocoa price volatility
El Niño phenomenon and crop diseases
The El Niño weather pattern has significantly disrupted cocoa production in major producing countries. Characterised by high temperatures and low humidity, El Niño conditions have severely impacted cocoa harvests in regions like Ivory Coast and Ghana, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s cocoa supply. The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) reported that arrivals at Ivorian and Ghanaian ports were down 28% and 35%, respectively, compared to the same period last season.
Adding to the challenges posed by El Niño, ICCO (2024) reports crop diseases such as the swollen shoot virus have devastated...
27
Feb
Choc Amor shortlisted for a Red Rose Award
27
Feb
Choc Amor exports to Japan
XTEMOS ELEMENT
CAROUSEL OF POSTS
09
Jun
VOLATILITY IN COCOA PRICES AND ITS IMPACT
VOLATILITY IN COCOA PRICES AND ITS IMPACT
In recent months, the global cocoa market has witnessed unprecedented price volatility, capturing the attention of industry and consumers alike. On April 2024, cocoa prices soared to a historic high of $11,206 per metric ton, a stark contrast to the $4,275 per metric ton seen just six months prior. This dramatic fluctuation reflects a complex interplay of factors influencing the cocoa industry and implications.
Understanding these price fluctuations is crucial. The change in cocoa prices conditions the entire supply chain: farmers in cocoa-producing regions, chocolate companies, and end consumers purchasing chocolate products.
Factors contributing to cocoa price volatility
El Niño phenomenon and crop diseases
The El Niño weather pattern has significantly disrupted cocoa production in major producing countries. Characterised by high temperatures and low humidity, El Niño conditions have severely impacted cocoa harvests in regions like Ivory Coast and Ghana, accounting for approximately 70% of the world’s cocoa supply. The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) reported that arrivals at Ivorian and Ghanaian ports were down 28% and 35%, respectively, compared to the same period last season.
Adding to the challenges posed by El Niño, ICCO (2024) reports crop diseases such as the swollen shoot virus have devastated...
27
Feb
Choc Amor Shortlisted For a Red Rose Award!
Choc Amor shortlisted for a Red Rose Award
27
Feb
Choc Amor Exports to Japan
Choc Amor exports to Japan
26
Feb
New CBD Oil infused chocolate is a flavour sensation!
Choc Amor has joined forces with Manchester based 1CBD to launch a range of new CBD infused chocolate in 3 unique flavours.
26
Feb
We are celebrating 3 more award wins!
Great Taste Awards for 2019
We are delighted to reveal another batch of awards for 2019.
Great Taste is one of the world's most coveted food and drink awards and it has just announced its stars of 2019. We are delighted to reveal that out of 12,772 products sent in from over 100 different countries, Choc Amor's very own Three Pepper, Salt & Pepper Lemongrass and Brown Butter & Nibs chocolate bars were all awarded a coveted 1-star Great Taste Award.
This means that the esteemed judges dubbed all three Choc Amor bars as chocolate the delivers fantastic flavour and we would have to agree!
The Great Taste Awards are judged by over 500 of the most demanding palates belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as a whole host of food writers and journalists. The Great Taste Awards are widely acknowledged as one of the most respected food accreditation schemes for artisan and speciality food producers, like ourselves.
As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakable black and gold Great...
18
Feb
Choc Amor – The Eco Friendly Chocolatier!
Choc Amor - The Eco Friendly Chocolatier!
We are excited to reveal that we have moved to our new plant based compostable packaging for 80% of Choc Amor’s packaging, continuing our sustainability drive.Our new compostable chocolate bags contain the Choc Amor’s popular chocolate slabs and it is these slabs that make up 80% of the Choc Amor range.
The new compostable bags use a specialised film which is natural and eco-friendly. The principal raw material is renewable wood pulp from sustainably harvested FSC managed forests and the material will ultimately biodegrade in the ocean.
Choc Amor Director of Production, Paul Williams, said: “Despite running a small business, the ability to recycle or compost really matters to us and our customers. Ultimately we try to be as eco-friendly as we can in all that we do.
“Conventional packaging is of course easier to source and it’s cheaper, but helping the environment in any way we can is extremely important to everyone working at Choc Amor and to our loyal customers.
“To become sustainable, every step of...
07
Nov
Chocolate ‘as good for you as exercise’
Chocolate is as good for you as exercise, research suggests.
Scientists found that small amounts of dark chocolate may improve health in a similar way to exercise.
The researchers focused on the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy, and discovered that a plant compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, appeared to stimulate the same muscle response as vigorous activity. Dr Moh Malek, from Wayne State University in Detroit, who led the US study on mice, said: ''Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body.
More mitochondria mean more energy is produced the more work can be performed. ''Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response - particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles.''
A specific type of epicatechin from cocoa was given to mice twice a day for 15 days. At the same time, the animals underwent 30 minutes of treadmill training each day. Researchers found that mice only fed epicatechin had...
16
Feb
Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival March 2018
Event date: 24-25 March 2018
Event time: 10 00
From: 10 am to 4.30 pm. Ramsbottom town centre.
Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival combined with a strong local community, picturesque scenery and a strong sense of local pride, Ramsbottom in Bury has been slowly building an impressive foodie scene for some years.
So much so, it even coaxed London-based food critic Jay Rayner off his local turf.
But it's not just stonking restaurants you'll find in Rammy. The distinguished cuisine is matched by a sense of humour and heritage - with events like the Black Pudding Throwing Championships and The Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival drawing huge crowds.
This year sees the tenth annual Chocolate Festival taking place in Ramsbottom on the 24th and 25th March 2018, there is a chocolate market featuring artisan chocolate makers. Also you will find those making chocolate themed goods such as cheeses and wine all made using chocolate, etc. There will be hot street food and entertainment. Why not put the date in your diary.