76%* of consumers want to buy more sustainable chocolate or cocoa-based products but are unsure how to go about it. Additionally, price remains a major barrier to turning those sustainable intentions into actual purchases for more than half of EU consumers.*
And with cocoa becoming more expensive, and more volatile, it’s becoming harder for consumers to access more sustainable indulgence.
That’s why we’re proud to introduce NextCoa™, a delicious range of confectionery alternatives to chocolate made with no cocoa.
This range of solutions provides a great sensorial experience and addresses customer demands on sustainability, scalability, and price volatility.
We’re happy to announce that beyond manufacturing NextCoa™ in the US (Ohio), we are now also producing it in the Netherlands (Deventer).
Thanks to Cargill’s agile production model, we offer NextCoa™ in both liquid and solid formats, unlocking a wide range of applications. NextCoa™ can be used in any application across Bakery, Chocolate Confectionery, Ice Cream, and Snacks & Cereals.
*Cargill’s sustainability consumer survey, 2023.
More sustainable, more affordable
When it comes to sustainability, NextCoa™ is a game changer: compared to chocolate, it:
- Reduces carbon footprint by up to 67%.* **
- Has 90% less land related impacts. * **
- Consumes 95% less water. * **
Additionally, NextCoa™ is tangibly more cost-effective than chocolate. Based on current market prices, the difference is a significant percentage saving.
*Results presented indicate the upper bounds of reductions across the alternative products assessed when compared to conventional chocolate. For conventional chocolate products a representative commercial product with similar manufacturing conditions are determined. This is not intended to represent the totality of the chocolate industry but rather a realistic market average for indicative comparative assertations.
**The underlying LCA study incorporates the European Commission-recommended PEF impact assessment method and is 3rd party panel review for ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 conformance. Ex-ante results are ISO 14044 certified, iterations in supply-chain configurations will be accounted for. Report available at: Voyage Foods.
Note: More information on claims can be provided on demand in further documentation.
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A partnership grounded on innovation
The NextCoa™ range was developed in partnership with food technology company Voyage Foods. It’s grounded on Voyage’s patented technology, of gently roasting and processing revalorized ingredients like grape and sunflower seeds into delightful solutions that are label-friendly, and also a win for both sustainability and transparency.
Both sunflower kernels and grape seeds perform exceptionally well when it comes to familiarity* – addressing the consumers’ need for ingredients they recognize. And the ingredients ranks equally high when it comes to their ability to drive purchase intent.
In 2024, we formalized our partnership with Voyage Foods – and today, Cargill is proud to be the exclusive global partner to bring this innovation to the market. Together with the global raw material and fats & oils expertise of Cargill, this partnership is the winning formula to develop and quickly scale more sustainable indulgence solutions globally.
*Cargill’s proprietary IngredientTracker 2023
Meeting sensorial expectations
The NextCoa™ range is designed not only to meet expectations, but to truly delight consumers across different taste preferences thanks to deep sensory research and consumer testing.
Each recipe has been carefully refined to cross the threshold of delight by leveraging advanced statistical modeling and predictive analysis tools – because indulgence should be inclusive, and sensory pleasure should never be compromised.
It includes four distinct recipes:
- An intense recipe – a bold, vegan alternative to dark chocolate, delivering depth and richness.
- A dark mild recipe – a unique vegan blend that combines the best of dark and milk chocolate sensory profiles for a balanced, satisfying experience.
- A dairy mild recipe – a smooth, dairy-based alternative to milk chocolate, crafted for milk chocolate lovers.
- A mild recipe – a gentle, vegan alternative to milk chocolate, offering creamy indulgence without compromise.
Let’s innovate together with NextCoa™
Now it’s time to discuss what NextCoa™ will do for your next innovation or reformulation project.
Let’s make more sustainable, more affordable for your consumers with NextCoa™!