Barry Callebaut Unleashes the Full Power of the Cacaofruit in Next-Gen Food & Drink Category
Cacaofruit snacks are currently being piloted in select retail stores in California
Based on its unparalleled innovation power, Barry Callebaut AG, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, unveiled today at an exclusive event in San Francisco 'Cacaofruit Experiences': an innovative range of products that celebrates the fresh, fruity taste and natural richness of the cacaofruit and marks the creation of a next-gen food & drink category. As part of 'Cacaofruit Experiences', the company also presented the artisan world with the delicious WholeFruit chocolate, a fresh, fruity delight made from 100% pure cacaofruit.
Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash
Food and drinks for the next generation
Whereas normally 70% of the fruit is discarded as waste, 'Cacaofruit Experiences' literally unleashes the full power of the cacaofruit as these products make use of the entire fruit: its beans, its nutrient-dense peel and its fresh and fruity pulp and juice. This results in a range of high-quality ingredients that can be used in applications such as juices, smoothies, frozen desserts, bakery and pastry products, and snacks all the way to chocolate.
Millennials and centennials earnestly want to live a happy, healthy life, in symbiosis with the world around them. They want food and drinks that are tasty and nutritious for them and also good for the planet and its people. 'Cacaofruit Experiences' responds to this need: They have a fresh and fruity taste and are rich in nutrients such as fibers, protein and magnesium. At the same time, they are good for the planet and its people because the entire cacaofruit is utilized.
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Barry Callebaut, said: "Innovation is one of the pillars of our growth strategy. Our unparalleled knowledge has enabled us to break new ground, unleashing the full power of the cacaofruit, which the Mayans cherished as 'food of the gods'. Today, we have again unveiled a world first with 'Cacaofruit Experiences'. We are looking forward to starting a new journey with our customers and discovering the completely new range of applications that 'Cacaofruit Experiences' and WholeFruit chocolate will make possible."
Global roll-out of 'Cacaofruit Experiences' kicked off by Mondelēz International
SnackFutures, the innovation and venture hub of Mondelēz International, the world's largest snacking company, is the first company to introduce 'Cacaofruit Experiences' in a consumer product under its new CaPao brand. CaPao is piloting two cacaofruit snack products – Smoothie Ball and cacaofruit Jerky Strips– with select retailers in Los Angeles, California.
WholeFruit chocolate for chefs & artisans: made from 100% pure cacaofruit
'Cacaofruit Experiences' is also hitting the chef and artisan market as a new type of chocolate: WholeFruit chocolate, a fresh, fruity chocolate made from 100% pure cacaofruit. As of May 2020, WholeFruit chocolate will be available in two variants: the punchy WholeFruit Bold and the smooth, luscious WholeFruit Velvety. The event in San Francisco marked the start of a co-development journey with 30 top chocolatiers and pastry chefs, giving them the opportunity to discover the full palette of flavor and aroma and to explore the limitless applications of WholeFruit chocolate.
Market research confirms potential of WholeFruit chocolate
A quantitative consumer study conducted by an independent global market research agency in the US, the UK and China predicts that WholeFruit is a winning value proposition.
Pablo Perversi, Barry Callebaut's Chief Innovation, Sustainability & Quality Officer, added: "Our goal in R&D is to develop innovations that are on trend, satisfy unmet consumer needs and also taste great. WholeFruit chocolate scores on all three points. It will respond to the need of millennials and centennials for 'healthy indulgence' just like our Ruby chocolate, launched in 2017, meets the need for 'hedonistic indulgence'. Moreover, by using more of the cacaofruit and wasting less, we are also having a positive impact on the planet and its people."
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