A leading agri-business operating across the value chain in 66 countries, Olam International’s purpose is Re-imagining Global Agriculture: Growing Responsibly.
At the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo, July 15-18, 2018 in Chicago, visit stand S0804 to discover how Olam Cocoa is supporting the realisation of this purpose through innovative cocoa ingredients and sustainable sourcing solutions.
Innovative application solutions, premium deZaan cocoa
At IFT, CIC experts will be presenting application samples that utilise premium cocoa powders from flagship brand deZaan. These include a novel, high protein, iced mocha beverage and an indulgent chocolate cake pop.
Matthias Richter, Vice President for Olam Cocoa in North America, comments, “IFT is a great forum for the presentation of our vast and unique cocoa ingredient portfolio and for us to show industry partners what we’re doing as a business to Re-imagine Agriculture and Grow Responsibly. Whether it is the supply of traceable and sustainably sourced cocoa beans, specialty cocoa masses and butters, premium deZaan cocoa powders like our no-added sodium D11BK or dark natural TrueDark cocoa powder, or our newly launched and US domestically produced Huysman cocoa powders, IFT allows technical experts across ingredient sectors to build awareness about trends and applications.”
In response to increasing consumer demand for high protein and non-dairy options, the iced mocha beverage presented at IFT is a plant-based formulation that utilises deZaan D11R. This premium deZaan cocoa powder masks the bitter flavour notes typical of plant-based protein formulations, while creating a consistent, dark brown colour profile.
Wouter Stomph, Senior Manager, Cocoa Product Development & Innovation, says, “For many consumers of chocolate and confectionery products, the concept of permissible indulgence is another significant driver behind purchasing decisions and the irresistible cake pops that Olam Cocoa will present at IFT are formulated accordingly. With a delicious chocolate cake centre that has been baked with deZaan D11S cocoa powder, each of the single bite cake pops is enrobed with a luxurious chocolate coating made with Huysman H11NP cocoa powder and then finished with a dusting of D23ZR cocoa powder.”
Rinus Heemskerk, Global Head of Product Development and Innovation, notes, “Our Cocoa Innovation Centre (CIC) teams are on the frontline when it comes to responding to shifts in consumer tastes, and supporting customers with tailored application examples is something that deZaan has been doing for decades. In fact, deZaan pioneered many of the cocoa production methods that are today’s industry standards, and we are proud to build upon this tradition each and every year with cocoa ingredients that set new benchmarks for colour, flavour, quality, consistency and functionality.”
Experts from Olam’s Cocoa Innovation Centre (CIC) in Willowbrook, Illinois, directly aid North American companies with recipe creation, recipe reformulation, new product development, and product line extensions in the go to market process. The CIC’s capabilities cover the full range of application segments, from bakery to confectionery to dairy.
Re-imagining global agriculture
Ingredient traceability is integral to the future of the food industry and Olam Cocoa seeks to provide cocoa beans and cocoa products that are sourced and produced in an ethical, socially responsible, traceable and environmentally sustainable manner, while creating Prosperous farmers and farming systems; Thriving communities; and Re-generation of the living world.
Already one of the world’s leading suppliers of sustainable cocoa, Olam Cocoa is progressing towards the goal of 100% traceable and sustainable cocoa volumes from its direct origination supply chain by 2020. Technology is a vital component of this process, and the recently launched AtSource platform, a sustainable and traceable sourcing solution that provides unrivalled environmental and social supply chain insights, will be available for preview at IFT.
Simon Brayn-Smith, Head of Sustainability for Olam Cocoa, says, “Following the launch of AtSource, now more than ever our customers are connected to the source of supply at each stage of the product’s journey, guaranteeing granular traceability and allowing customers and consumers assurance not only of the quality, but also of the sustainability of the products we offer.”
