JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, here are some lessons learned from CHOCOVISION + Millennials
Three weeks ago, we experienced Chocovision 2016 like we never had before. From June 7-9, 2016, we saw a record number of Chocovision delegates in DAVOS, Switzerland. We also heard many NEW voices in the discussions around the chocolate and cocoa industry – the voices of our MILLENIAL generation. Here are some of the key themes which ran from #AskChocovision, till the end of the CHOCOVISION conference:
Read moreReflections: CHOCOVISION - Final Thoughts
So it has been a couple of weeks since the great Chocovision ended. The dust has settled. The adrenalin levels are back to normal. Now is the perfect time to honestly reflect on what I got out of it. So the burning questions are, was it worth all the hype and excitement? Most importantly, did it meet my expectations?
Read moreReflections: The long but fruitful road to sustainability
Chocovision 2016 aimed to create intense debates around the future of the chocolate value chain by uniting industry leaders, government officials and cocoa farmers in a small Swiss village high up in the mountains. But living in today’s world full of talk but no action, I was particularly curious to hear how key stakeholders drive sustainability on the ground every day. Are we doing the right things to the right extent and at the right speed?
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Reflections: Bold, ambitious, committed to change, lets “Make it Matter” at CHOCOVISION 2016.
Two years ago, I was in front of 200 people, representing the ‘Next Generation’ at Chocovision 2014. The atmosphere was one of optimism about the future of the industry as we worked towards making it fairer and greener. Two years on at CHOCOVISION 2016 must revisit these hopes we expressed and the commitments we made, and explore the ways in which we can progress further over the next two years. In 2016, we dared to be a little BOLDER in achieving lasting change; bolder to ultimately “Make it Matter.”
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Reflections: The Key? A stronger joint venture towards greater change
Four months ago when I received the invitation from Barry Callebaut’s CEO, Antoine Saint-Affrique, to attend CHOCOVISION 2016 as part of a selected group of Barry Callebaut’s Graduate Trainees representing the Millennials, I was surprised and enthusiastic about it. But it was not until I lived the experience that I actually realized the true value of this opportunity.
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Reflections: Empowering ourselves to create a better future
Chocovision 2016 was an amazing experience. Without mentioning all the interesting and informative speeches, the networking with other delegates has also given me a lot of insight into the industry. At the end of the day, the conference has made me feel empowered and ready to take responsibility as a millennial to create a better world.
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Why can't we step up and make a change?

Why Wait for tomorrow for tomorrow may never come, make that change!
Day 2 was what CHOCOVISION is all about; a day of learning and being challenged in our opinions and (while secretly) all looking forward to the grand finale; the talk with Sir Bob Geldof at the end of the day. He seemed quite touched that the industry had done something and for me, I agree.
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Cocoa Action after 2 years – Let’s be honest!

Innovation and Collaboration – the way out for cocoa supply change in 21st century
Dr Jason Clay, SVP, Markets and Executive Director, The Markets Institute, World Wildlife Fund, stressed on the emergency on the food production: the food we are going to consume in the next 40 years will equal to the food we consumed in the last 8,000 years. Facing the threats like climate change and deforestation, the way out is really through innovation and collaboration.
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We have to tackle obesity, and the creative solutions are out there!
Obesity has become a global health problem and we are approaching a critical stage. The repercussions of obesity as an epidemic has far reaching impacts on our society on many levels, and it is through changing consumptions habits and studying the behaviour of the consumer that we can create a satisfying and healthier consumption experience for the consumer. Such is the message of Prof. Pierre Chandon who while making us aware of this ever growing problem, shares with us some creative solutions to tackling it.
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Chocovision - June 8 | Lunch time blog! From: Angus Kennedy
The first full day of 2016’s Chocovision up in the mountains in Davos, Switzerland, got off to a blistering start, with a number of key papers offering valuable insight into various aspects of not only the confectionery industry, but the food industry and even the business world as a whole.
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Are you ready to go digital?
Up until recently, the retail mindset was very simple according to Olaf Koch, CEO of Metro Group: “Customers come in through the door and should leave through the door…ideally, they will spend some money along the way.” Retail business models were very much focused on transactional activities and gaining scale quickly to dominate a market. However, with digitalization being a crucial element of each and every purchase in today’s world, the game is changing quickly.
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Digital Competency – Not just a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘must’!
Let’s talk digital and its inevitable impact on the consumer world. “In a space where everyone is figuring out how to master digital, let’s identify what the opportunities are in the consumer world.” These words alone spoken by Till Dudler from Accenture were enough to spark everyone’s attention.
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Ghana is delivering on its promise, says Dr Opuni
When Dr Stephen Opuni spoke at Chocovision 2014, he had just taken over the Ghana Cocoa Board or COCOBOD. New to his role then, his presentation was of commitment and reassurance. Then the young chief executive of COCOBOB spoke that his organization would “maintain its commitment to social responsibility throughout the country in education, health, water and sanitation, rural community lighting and improvement of rural roads.” What has changed?
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Lord Hastings asks the chocolate and cocoa industry to wake up to our duties
There’s something enjoyable about listening to Lord Michael Hastings. The global head of corporate citizenship at professional services firm KPMG, speaking at the opening of Chocovision 2016, first got the audience to think where chocolate companies sit in some of the more popular sustainable rankings.
Read moreFollowing one of our millennials, Franklin Franco, from Brazil to Davos, SNAPCHAT-style!
As you know, today is DAY ONE of CHOCOVISION 2016. We have been following one of our millennials, Franklin Franco, who has journeyed from from Ilheus, Brazil, all the way to Davos, Switzerland, to attend CHOCOVISION. All the pictures in this blogpost were taken from Snapchat. So, here are a couple of snaps from his journey.
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The best way to facilitate change is not to think about it!
Events like the Chocovision conference are about not thinking the same out dated thoughts; we must go with an open mind ready to take on new goals, beliefs and challenges. Creativity stops where fear begins, so it’s only the mind that gives a situation fear. So let’s go for it, fearless and forward.
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Don't call me 'Angus, the blogger', please!
Well; so much has been said about my writing ability (for better and worse), the pressure is on right! I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like the word ‘blogger’ so much. So, meet yours truly, Angus ‘the blogger’. Sounds like I live underground in damp cave grunting without use of language or a man who has been condemned for the rest of his life to clean the local Maidstone town toilets every Tuesday or something.
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Bold, ambitious, committed to change, lets “Make it Matter” at CHOCOVISION 2016
Two years ago, I found myself in front of 200 people, representing the ‘Next Generation’ at Chocovision 2014. The atmosphere was one of optimism about the future of the industry – working towards making it greener and fairer. Two years on we must revisit these hopes we expressed and the commitments we made...
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“Leading by example” – how industry leaders have to take the lead in cocoa sustainability in Asia
Asians love chocolate as many others around the world do. But how can we ensure that the future of cocoa, the most essential ingredient to chocolate, is sustainable in one of the world’s biggest cocoa-processing regions – Asia?
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WHY SHOULD MILLENNIALS CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CHOCOLATE?
CHOCOVISION invites millennials to its first ever Twitter chat with industry leaders on the future of chocolate – join in via #AskChocovision on June 2, 2016, between 2-3pm CET (7-8am CDT / 8-9pm SGT).
Millennials represent an upcoming generation of future leaders, activists and entrepreneurs. Getting millennials involved in the conversations, debates and discussions around cocoa and chocolate is an important element in driving the progress we are working towards at Chocovision 2016.
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My Personal Journey in the World of Cocoa
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, only a few hours away from where you can find one of the world’s best quality cocoa, I was familiarized with the world of cocoa from a very early age. From middle school history classes, where we learned the importance of Cocoa during the Spanish Colony, to road trips and family vacations, where I had the experience of walking through plantations of two of the main types of Coco -- Criollo and Trinitario, I must admit that I have always had a very personal relationship with cocoa.
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Why must we take action NOW?!
Switzerland, the land of serene mountain scenery, known for its farms, banks, watches and of course, chocolates! Coming from a little countryside village, I must admit that I hardly defy the common “Swiss stereotypes”. I studied at a Swiss business school and naturally, interned in the financial services sector for a bit. Of course I received a Swiss watch as a graduation gift two years ago. My current job? Well, predictably, I am a chocolate-loving Swiss working for Barry Callebaut.
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What is the future of our beloved chocolate?
My name is Ruvarashe Chinyemba and I am 24 years old. At a conference where the top leaders gather to discuss the future of chocolate and cocoa, I gladly represent three groups - millennials, women and Africans. I am ready to participate and hope to do justice while at it.
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Working towards a more sustainable cocoa world
My childhood dream was to own a chocolate factory, like how Charlie did in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Born in China, and having graduated from a university in Singapore, I won a different kind of golden ticket. I was picked to be part of the Barry Callebaut’s reputable Graduate Trainee Program, which led me to work in Singapore and now in Belgium.
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Meet one of our guest bloggers: Angus Kennedy - or: Mr. Chocolate!
We are happy to welcome – again – Angus Kennedy as one of our guest writers at CHOCOVISION 2016. Angus has become a leading figure in the chocolate industry appearing last year on The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Al Jazeera Television in the United States. Angus has been featured in numerous media interviews as a ‘go-to’ for his extensive expertise in the global chocolate sector.
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GREETINGS FROM BREMEN! - A REVIEW...
As we sit next to the river in Bremen together and look back at our experiences at Chocovision, we look back feeling enriched and better for the experience. When we prepared for the conference in the weeks leading up to it, we were apprehensive, nervous and altogether unsure as to what to expect.
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"CHOCOLATE HAS BECOME A VICTIM OF ITSELF" - AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR GUEST BLOGGER, ANGUS KENNEDY
Were you not able to attend CHOCOVISION 2014 for whatever reasons? Want to hear an interesting view of the surprises, the honesty, the talks, and the actions from the conference? Listen to Angus Kennedy, who well missed the bus initially but caught up and has loads to share here. Angus is no stranger in the industry and has been editing Kennedy's Confection magazine for over 20 years.
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WHEN PAUL POLMAN SPEAKS, WE THINK OF SOAP, SHAMPOO, ICE CREAM AND COCOAACTION
You think of soap and shampoo, you probably think about Unilever – or at least, one of its brands. You think of corporate leaders in sustainability, and Paul Polman’s name would probably rank high in that list. Many of the press people who have interviewed him or people who have watched him talked, such as those at CHOCOVISION 2014, realized that Paul Polman, the CEO of Unilever, is truly passionate and determined to tackle big social and environmental problems like climate change, gender inequality, and poverty.
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FORGET THOSE LESSONS YOU WERE TOLD WERE IMPORTANT
'Trade not aid and free trade and not fair trade' says Dr. Auma Obama very passionately on the closing speech today. I couldn't agree more and what with Marks and Spencer saying in their talk that they have heard it all before (sustainable programmes) and actually, what they see on ground level in the Ivory Coast is entirely different to what is promised...
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WE OFTEN LEARN THE FASTEST WHEN WE SLOW DOWN THE MOST
OK, pull up a seat and listen up as I have a confession to make. It was all going so well for me. M25 motorway was behaving itself, Heathrow airport is all new now, and so suspiciously easy. I had studied the programme for CHOCOVISION and all set and ready to go. And, yes you guessed it, my plane was delayed by 1/2 an hour at Heathrow!
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WORLD COCOA CONFERENCE 2014 - A SHORT WRAP-UP
Last week, 1,400 participants from 55 countries participated at the 2nd World Cocoa Conference in Amsterdam. For those who were not able to participate here's a short wrap-up - and a link to a BBC report summarizing some of the topics discussed in the Dutch capital.
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“WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU, IS THE RESULT OF A LIFETIME OF CHOCOLATE.”
With this quote of the famous US actress Catherine Hepburn, four time winner of the Oscar and the most decorated actress in history, Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann found a very catching introduction to his opening speech. Next to Dr. Andreas Jacobs and FX De Mallmann he opened tonight CHOCOVISION 2014 in Davos.
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LEYMAH GBOWEE: CHANGE FOR THE GOOD
CHOCOVISION welcomes another Nobel Laureate from Chocovision on Vimeo.
“Chocolate and cocoa industries are not exactly good friends with grassroots activists,” she started off. However, curiosity brought Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee here – to CHOCOVISION 2014 in Davos, Switzerland.

THREE, TWO, RUN… DAVOS FOR THE CHOCOVISIONARIES
OK, quick post before I leave for my flight from Heathrow tomorrow morning for this year’s CHOCOVISION 2014. And I am really looking forward to seeing not just the Alps of course – I live near London, so we don’t see this sort of thing much, but also to listen to the guest speakers on the opening night.
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SWISS FEDERAL COUNCILOR JOHANN N. SCHNEIDER-AMMANN WILL GIVE OPENING GREETINGS AT CHOCOVISION
This year’s opening greetings will be given by Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Federal Councilor of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. “Sustainable economic growth, in my view, calls for inclusive growth where value created is shared. Free trade is a prerequisite for that growth, and this is why it is a privilege and of utmost relevance to have the Federal Councilor of Economic Affairs Education and Research of the Swiss Confederation, Johann Schneider-Ammann, as our opening speaker for CHOCOVISION 2014,” comments Andreas Jacobs, Chairman of Barry Callebaut.
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THERE IS ALWAYS AN IDIOT THAT WILL TURN A SOLUTION INTO A PROBLEM
OK so here is my rather less official-looking ‘opening address’ for Chocovision 2014 and firstly I must add that I do not normally look this cross when I am eating chocolate... as you clearly will see in my blog portrait pictured online. I am sure I will be much happier (and of course duly better informed) when you see me in Davos! Now let’s get down to the wonderful and magical business of chocolate.
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RETURNING TO CHOCOVISION
Two years ago, at the CHOCOVISION conference, I had the opportunity to talk about the tremendous challenges the industry is facing when it comes to making cocoa more sustainable. At that time, a challenge was issued – can the sector come together to work in a cooperative manner to put farmers first?
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MEET ONE OF OUR GUEST BLOGGERS: ANGUS KENNEDY
We are happy to welcome Angus Kennedy as one of our guest bloggers her on the CHOCOVISION blog. Angus Kennedy has become a leading figure in the chocolate industry with regular media coverage in the national newspapers, International Radio and Television for his expertise in the global chocolate sector.
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WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? - DR. AUMA OBAMA'S KEYNOTE ABOUT THE 'LEARNING LESSENS FROM THE GROUND'
Born and raised in Kenya, Dr. Auma Obama established her own foundation, Sauti Kuu, today. Sauti Kuu, or "powerful voices", aims to give a perspective to disadvantaged children and youth in rural Africa. The foundation is based on the principle of self-help: the younger generation should take their fate into their own hands, becoming the makers of their own destiny.
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LISTENING TO THE NEXT GENERATION - WE TALK TO STUDENTS FROM JACOBS UNIVERSITY ABOUT THEIR EXPECTATIONS AT CHOCOVISION 2014 - PART #2
The decisions business and political leaders are taking today will have an impact on the generations to come. 4 students from 4 different parts of the world, all studying at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, will join CHOCOVISION 2014 talking about 4 different topics related to the cocoa and chocolate industry that matter to them.
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FOR BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS TO COME: ANOTHER NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE TO SET THE STAGE FOR CHOCOVISION 2014
Leymah Gbowee has been going around the world telling her stories of survival, victory and revolution. People including business leaders have been asking her about her drive, challenges, moments and regrets. Her stories and speeches have inspired many people – at The World Economic Forum, TED, and at the recent Nobel Peace Prize Forum.
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LISTENING TO THE NEXT GENERATION - WE TALK TO STUDENTS FROM JACOBS UNIVERSITY ABOUT THEIR EXPECTATIONS AT CHOCOVISION 2014 - PART #1
The decisions business and political leaders are taking today will have an impact on the generations to come. 4 students from 4 different parts of the world, all studying at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, will join CHOCOVISION 2014 talking about 4 different topics related to the cocoa and chocolate industry that matter to them.
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CHOCOVISION 2012 WAS WHERE KPMG LAUNCHED TOMORROW’S CHOCOLATE
One of the trend reports that was launched at CHOCOVISION 2012, was KPMG’s Tomorrow’s chocolate: What today’s market can tell about the future, presented by KPMG’s European Head of Consumer Markets, John A. Morris. Since then, the report has been widely quoted, even recently, in various speeches and news report including those in CNBC.
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THE SPEED OF BUSINESS TODAY, COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION ON CHOCOVISION 2014
In June this year, Davos will once again play host to CHOCOVISION. Over 200 senior international business leaders and key stakeholders will congregate in the picturesque alpine municipality to explore and initiate new approaches and solutions for securing a sustainable, successful chocolate future.
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