Cargill and food technology company Voyage Foods plan to introduce a cocoa-free chocolate alternative to the U.S. market, company officials announce this week.
NextCoa, the companies said, is made from grape seeds and other “plant-based ingredients” and can be used in chocolate bars, snack coatings, baked goods, ice cream and other confectionary products. The platform includes “mild” and “dark mild” varieties.
Officials said that the product could offer a more reliable ingredient supply and greater price stability for producers amid wild swings in cocoa prices in recent years. It is also made without major allergens, is vegan, Kosher pareve and Halal-suitable, and cuts the carbon footprint of conventional chocolate by two-thirds.
Cargill officials, however, said that NextCoa “is about expanding choice, not replacing chocolate.”
“It unlocks a new way for manufacturers to create the flavors and indulgent experiences people love while building resilience into the food system,” Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, the vice president and managing director of cocoa and chocolate at Cargill Food North America, said in the announcement.
Cargill is the global business-to-business distributor for Voyage, which aims to develop sustainable alternatives to chocolate, coffee and other commodities. The Minnesota-based food giant is working with other “regional partners” in the U.S. and plans to expand the product to Canada “soon.”
