Tasty future for Cadbury

CHOCOLATE maker Cadbury has launched a Cocoa Life sustainability program in Hobart, aimed at shoring up the cocoa supply chain across six countries.

Parent company Mondelez International said yesterday the program would help cocoa farmers develop their expertise, improve their livelihoods, strengthen their communities, and inspire future generations of cocoa farmers.

The company aims to im- pact more than 200,000 cocoa farmers and one million community members by 2022.

“A vibrant cocoa supply chain is essential for the future of chocolate,” director of chocolate manufacturing for Australia and New Zealand Jason Bonisoli said.

“Without cocoa there is no chocolate and without the next cocoa farming generation there is no cocoa.”

“Cocoa Life is a US$400 million ($A520 million) global cocoa sustainability program which is already supporting and empowering over 120,000 cocoa farmers in 1085 communities across six countries,” associate director for Everyday Chocolate Paul Chatfield said.

The company also announced yesterday a $13.5 million investment in high-speed wrapping and packaging equipment that would help Cadbury increase production from 48,000 tonnes last year to 51,000 tonnes this year.

Cadbury has been making chocolate at Claremont for almost a century.