News Bites

CHOCOVISION 2016 will bring together 200 relevant stakeholders along the cocoa value chain – farmers, cocoa processors, chocolate makers, FMCG producers, retailers, investors as well as politicians and NGOs.

The conference theme is MAKE IT MATTER. From cocoa to chocolate – Explore. Empower. Exchange., building on the notion that stakeholders increasingly judge us by the impact we create, and not just by our words.

Stimulating discussions on strategic topics of common concern
The cocoa and chocolate industry is thriving…with a popular product, stable growth rates and a wide scope for innovation. It is also an industry with a complex, highly fragmented supply chain and a number of challenges, as well as opportunities, along that chain. For example, farmers who seem to be stuck in poverty, sustainability issues that are now centre stage, rapidly changing consumer habits, an evolving digital landscape or the looming obesity crisis, to mention but a few.

Olam Cocoa CEO, Gerard A. Manley will be presenting during the conference’s Empower Session on the 8th June at 2pm.

More than 30 intriguing speakers and panelists
Guest speakers and panelists include senior business executives, including Tidjane Thiam (CEO, Credit Suisse), Olaf Koch (Chairman of the Management Board, Metro Group), Markus Conrad (CEO, Tchibo), Calvin Grieder (Chairman & CEO, Bühler), Gerard A. Manley (CEO, Olam Cocoa,), Aldo Uva (Chief Officer Operating Supply and Strategic Business Platforms,  Ferrero), Patrick Firmenich (Vice-Chairman Firmenich); experts such as Till Dudler (Managing Director EALA Consumer Goods & Services Strategy, Accenture), Kate Robertson (Founder ‘One Young World’ and former Global President and UK Chairman at Havas), Prof. Pierre Chandon (The L’Oréal Chaired Professor of Marketing, Innovation and Creativity, INSEAD), Dr. Jason Clay, (SVP, Markets and Executive Director, the Markets Institute, World Wildlife Fund); stakeholders along the cocoa value chain such as political leaders from cocoa growing countries, Massandjé Touré-Litsé (Director General, Conseil du Café-Cacao), Dr. Steven K. Opuni (Chief Executive, Ghana Cocoa Board), cocoa farmers from Ivory Coast and Ghana,  industry representatives from Olam International, Mars, The Hershey Company, Barry Callebaut, representatives of the International Cocoa Initiative ICI, IDH, Swisscontact and VOICE Network;  and many more.

The Opening Night will feature Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick (Global Head of Citizenship, KPMG International), who will discuss the power of partnerships between business and civil society to empower smallholder producers economically and socially. CHOCOVISION also welcomes back world-renowned singer, songwriter and political activist Sir Bob Geldof on June 8, 2016 in Davos, Switzerland. Bob Geldof is widely recognized for his anti-poverty efforts concerning Africa. Four years after his passionate plea at CHOCOVISION 2012 that “the big players should get down and dirty in the soil with the growers” which inspired CocoaAction, Bob Geldof will participate in the sustainability session of CHOCOVISION 2016. During this session, industry representatives, together with key stakeholders from cocoa growing countries and civil society, will critically review progress made so far and discuss what more needs to be done to scale impact.

Sir Bob Geldof will close the sustainability session of CHOCOVISION 2016 which also features an input speech by Dr. Jason Clay, World Wildlife Fund, on systemic solutions to transform the cocoa market.

Further, a presentation of industry on how companies have changed their cocoa sustainability programs as a result of CocoaAction with:

• Susanna Zhu, The Hershey Company
• Nicko Debenham, Barry Callebaut
• Gerard A. Manley, Olam Cocoa
• Barry Parkin, Mars / Chairman World Cocoa Foundation
• Kip Walk, Blommer Chocolate

A Townhall Debate on what needs to be done by all parties involved to scale impact with origin country representatives will feature:

• Djibril Fadiga, Deputy General Manager, Conseil du Café-Cacao CCC, Côte d’Ivoire
• Stephen K. Opuni, Chief Executive, Ghana Cocoa Board
• Ivan Ontaneda Berrú, CEO Eco Kakao S.A., Ecuador
• Farmer representatives from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
• Manfred Borer, Swisscontact
• Antonie Fountain, VOICE Network
• Joost Oorthuizen, IDH
• Nick Weatherill, International Cocoa Initiative