Cargill: Upgrading for the Changing Chocolate Market, Pt 2

Welcome to part two of how manufacturer Cargill is upgrading to meet the demands of the changing chocolate market. 

If you missed part one on how its expanding to diversify its product offerings and tap into the growing Asian market, click here to read. 

Manufacturing Digital explore Cargill's partnership with the world's largest and most diversified food and beverage manufacturer, Nestlé.

Nestlé is pursuing significant goals to confront climate change, like reducing its green house gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and seeking to be on the road to net zero by 2050. 

“Reaching those goals requires innovative approaches with our partners, above all with strategic suppliers such as Cargill,” says Patricia Stroup, Chief Procurement Officer of Nestlé.

Cargill is one of Nestlé’s global food ingredient suppliers, and has been working with the company to discover superior ways of procuring and growing food ingredients. 

This is a necessity to protect our natural resources, conserve mater, improve cocoa farmers' livelihoods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain. 

"At Nestlé, we are constantly searching for new solutions to help advance regenerative food systems at scale, which includes enhancing livelihoods across our value chain at the same time,” says Antonia Wanner, group head of ESG Strategy and Deployment at Nestlé.

“Our progress on emissions reductions is proof of our unwavering commitment to our net zero roadmap.”

The manufacturer's ambition to create and advance regenerative food systems is supported by sustained effort from Cargill. 

Cargill & sustainability 

Cargill’s sustainability initiatives aim to create the world’s most sustainable food supply chains.

The company prioritises addressing climate change, conserving water and forests and protecting people while meeting global food demand.

Their approach is rooted in collaboration with farmers, customers and communities.

Cargill sets ambitious goals, guided by scientific needs to maintain a healthy planet and thriving populations.

Transparency is a key principle, with progress shared through an annual ESG report.

Cargill’s efforts also emphasize accountability, with governance mechanisms in place to monitor sustainability progress.

The company enhances the resilience of agricultural jobs through market access, tools and training, collaborating with Nestlé to provide certified cocoa as part of the income accelerator program.

Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Program

Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Program and its Breaks for Good KitKat, aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa-farming families while also implementing agriculture practices that can increase crop productivity. 

The cocoa ingredients used for this bar meet high traceability standards and are sourced from farming families involved in Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Program. 

The program focuses on:

• Aiming to close the living income gap and reduce child labour risks in cocoa farming communities.
• Encouraging changes in behaviour and rewarding positive practices in the home and on the farm, focusing on four areas: school enrolment, good agricultural practices, agroforestry activities and diversified incomes.
• Incentivising change by distributing mobile money cash transfers equally between the two household heads (e.g., man and woman) to encourage gender equality, share financial responsibilities and build more resilient households.

The program has reached 30,000 cocoa-farming families in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana with the aim of reaching an estimated 160,000 cocoa-farming families by 2030.

Cargill has played a vital role in this as partner, working with Rainforest Alliance to provide certified cocoa for Nestlé.

The manufacturer uses advanced data tools such as CocoaWise™ to monitor cocoa from start to finish, increasing supply chain transparency and traceability.

“As a partner on Nestlé’s sustainability journey, we are implementing solutions to source ingredients for Nestlé in ways that help restore the environment, support families and increase incomes,” says Michiel van der Bom, product line director for Cargill’s Europe and West Africa cocoa and chocolate business.

“Through our partnership, we are building a stronger, more resilient supply chain together.” 

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