Did you know that there is a global cocoa deficit? I didn't! Who would think that there isn't enough cocoa being produced to supply the demand? Well it looks like the 2006/2007 cocoa growing season was severely affected by bad weather and according to the International Cocoa Organization's (ICCO) latest quarterly bulletin, the global production deficit is now estimated at 242,000 tonnes. That's a lot of cocoa.
So expect retail prices to go up over the next year as producers have to pay the raised prices from growers and struggle to buy enough to meet their needs.
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-05-2008 @ 6:42PM
Beta Xtal said...
Shouldn't affect the 'Big Boys' too much....they don't use much of it in their chocolate anyway :-)
Reply
1-06-2008 @ 11:12PM
jr said...
I am not sure what Beta xtal means by "Big Boys", but he is absolutely wrong. All the top chocolatiers will need to increase their prices, unless they have stock-piled large quantities of cocoa beans. But I will pay anything to obtain my flavonoids high.
Reply
1-07-2008 @ 9:02AM
captain underpants and the bringdown gang said...
they don't use that much chocolate in the foods (the big guys dont) but it doesn't matter because they will raise their prices anyway.
Reply
1-07-2008 @ 1:39PM
Beta Xtal said...
Hi JR,
By "Big Boys" I do not mean chocolatiers, I mean the producers of mass 'chocolate' who remove the Cocoa Butter and replace it with vegetable fat. One of our best known brands, here in the UK, is now adding Hydrogenated Vegetable Fats (you probably know them as 'Trans Fats', to their 'chocolates'.
I can assure you that no slur was intended on the makers of fine chocolate(s).
You rightly point out, prices will go up, but we don't mind paying for quality.
As the Captain says, the 'big boys' will also put up their prices. People will be paying extra for Cocoa Butter which the 'big boys' will remove from the chocolate and sell on.
I do not believe that I am "absolutely wrong"
Reply