FDBusiness.com

Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business has launched a new range of sustainable coatings and fillings for the European market, offering UTZ Certified cocoa powder and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified palm and palm kernel products. The new range can be used in confectionery, bakery, cereals, ice cream and a variety of other applications.

“Our launch of coatings and fillings offering UTZ Certified sustainable cocoa and RSPO certified palm oil represents another step in Cargill’s ambition to continue to bring sustainable products to market,” explains Jos de Loor, managing director of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate. Cargill is a founding member of the UTZ Certified Program for cocoa, which aims to create an open and transparent supply chain for cocoa, and since 2004 it has been an active member of the RSPO, which works to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil.

The new products have been developed at Cargill’s Center of Expertise for coating & fillings in Deventer in the Netherlands, which opened in 2009. This facility is the only one in Europe exclusively dedicated to the production of coatings and fillings. The Center’s technical services specialist team draws on R&D expertise from across Cargill’s various businesses, and has worked closely with Cargill’s European refined oils business to incorporate RSPO certified mass balance palm oil into the new coatings and fillings, which contributes to sustainable production of palm oil.

This cross business collaboration reflects Cargill’s T-model for innovation which combines extensive food knowledge from across Cargill in areas such as ingredients, risk management, sustainability and quality, with expertise in sourcing and nurturing the flavours of cocoa and chocolate.

The production of UTZ Certified sustainable cocoa for use in the new coatings and fillings has been driven by Cargill’s Sustainable Cocoa Program. This aims to strengthen the cocoa supply chain for the future, ensuring a better life for cocoa farmers whilst exercising responsible environmental stewardship.

By choosing UTZ Certified coatings and fillings customers are committing to sustainable cocoa and can use the distinctive UTZ Certified logo, which is independently audited and guarantees that the cocoa in the product is sustainable.

“Coatings and fillings containing UTZ Certified 100% mass balance cocoa powder and RSPO certified mass balance palm oil are the latest piece in the jigsaw for our customers, joining our extensive portfolio of products,” says Jos de Loor. “They complement our wide range of fillings and coatings which include organic, reduced sugar, reduced fat in a wide variety of colours. We produce up to 150 recipes each month, tailor made to meet our customers’ requirements, and we look forward to offering our sustainable fillings and coatings as a further option.” For more information visit www.cargillcocoachocolate.com.