According to article published by Reuters on 18th March, 2021, Nestle plans to launch its Incoa bar chocolate sweetened with cocoa fruit pulp instead of sugar.
This is a novelty because before now cocoa fruit pulp is usually discarded as waste. Using it to flavour products will reduce sugar consumption, cut food waste, and increase the income of farmers by at least 20 – 40% by selling both the beans and pulp. Chocolate industry already worth over $103 billion.
Router’s report reveals that fruit pulp is not cheap.” Price list on Dutch retailer, Albert Heijn’s website shows that Incoa bars are about 50% costlier than other dark chocolates.” The report stated
“This is a big launch, we give it to all the customers who want it and don’t limit supplies,” Nestle Global Head of Confectionery, Alexander Maillot told Reuters
Nestle plans to launch its Incoa first in France, Netherlands, and subsequently in other European countries.
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Confectionery producers are scrambling to find ways to reduce the amount of sugar in their products. Some other companies are also looking toward using cocoa fruit pulp as a substitute for sugar. Nestle is not the only confectionery company on the move to upcycle cocoa fruit and use it as a substitute for sugar in some products. Lindt & Spruengli, Germany’s Ritter Sport, Felchln, a Swiss chocolate maker, Barry Callebaut SnackFuture are have all started upcycling of cocoa fruit pulp. As the trend continues, more other companies will join.
What Is In For Nigeria and Africa
West Africa is the major producer and exporter of cocoa beans. About 80% of total global cocoa production comes from West Africa. Nigeria is fourth largest producer of cocoa with about 328,263 tones annual production behind Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia.
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Up to 40% of Ivory Coast and Ghana’s foreign exchange is from cocoa export. Nestle and Cadbury mostly source their cocoa from West Africa.
With this development Nigerian and in deed African cocoa farmers will make more money from their cocoa produce. Currently, cocoa farmers sell only the beans discarding the pulp as waste. Hope is therefore in the horizon for Nigeria and indeed Africa to earn more income through the sell of cocoa.
It is expected that Nestle Africa and other local companies will soon adopt the addition of cocoa fruit pulp is their products line. When there is local demand the farmers bargaining power will boast and they earn money from their labour.
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