February 2025 News & AMA | #PodSaveChocolate Ep98
Episode 98 of #PodSaveChocolate features the chocolate news that’s fit to eat and AMA/Ask me Anything (about chocolate and cocoa) for February 2025.
When and Where to Watch
Links below to watch – or to view the archived episode
Click on this (shareable) link to watch on YouTube. Please subscribe (free!) to the @PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel, like this video, comment, and share this episode to help grow the #PSC community.
Clay Gordon
This LINKEDIN link is shareable.
This FACEBOOK link is also shareable.
Episode 98 Overview
This episode of #PodSaveChocolate is the February 2025 News & AMA episode.
Topics to be covered include:
1️⃣ The Continuing Saga of the High Cost of Cocoa
| MARKETS |
|---|
| Futures / Historical Prices / Moving Average – Barchart.com |
| Graph – Trading Economics |
The potential impact of the current US Administration’s trade war by tariffs policies on chocolate makers is yet to be known – but uncertainty is rarely welcomed, other than by speculators.
2️⃣ Upcycling – Cacao Pod Flour, Cacao Pulp Sweeteners
Arrigoni
A Callebaut patent application for cacao husk extracts.
A Callebaut patent application for cacao pulp sweeteners.
Gutiérrez
A Callebaut patent application for cacao shell powder.
3️⃣ A Beast of a Duo – Mr Tony’s?
Tony’s growth in the United States (+86% YoY) is partly down to its partnership announced last year with Feastables, the confectionery brand founded by Jimmy Donaldson (popularly known as YouTube influencer ‘MrBeast’), who is now a mission ally in Tony’s Open Chain, an initiative aimed at transforming cocoa supply chains.
€50m (+33% YoY) Growth in Net Revenue for Tony’s Chocolonely, taking the business to €200m ($206.6m) of total Net Revenue. Strong revenue growth from multiple regions, US sales exceeded $50m of net revenue, and Europe growth at +21%. YoY.
Maintaining a positive EBITDA position (€1.2m) despite substantial scaling investments and challenges of rapidly escalating cocoa prices.
And yet, Tony’s was not in the 2024 Top 100. Why not? Also not on this list is J&J Snack Foods (> $300M in sales), which makes me wonder what the criteria for inclusion are. I sent an email off to the editor asking.
4️⃣ Festival Updates
BOGO general admission tix offer – through February 14 (Eventbrite).
April 5 & 6
0
Formerly the Craft Chocolate Experience, now scheduled for May in SF, venue TBD.
Clay Gordon
The return of the Norwich Chocolate Festival in April and confirmed dates for the 2025 Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival in November are in the calendar.
5️⃣ A Noteworthy New Business Opportunity
Clay Gordon
Other Topic Resource Links
Links to other stories and resources mentioned in the AMA be added after the episode.
craftchocolatchallenge
Questions?
If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, you can add them in the Comments below at any time.
More Episode Hashtags (and Related Accounts to Follow)
#News #AMA #Trends
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChoc #PSC
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
Future Episodes
Equipping the Ultimate Chocolate/Confectionery Workshop: If cost were no object.
Something special for Valentine’s Day.
Equipping a Budget Chocolate/Confectionery Workshop: Strategies for where and how to spend the money you do have effectively.
#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives
To read an archived post and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below.
Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon
Audio-only podcasts
Become a Premium ChocolateLife Member!
| These offers are available to free members, so subscribe above then click one of the following links. | |
|---|---|
| Team TCL Member Monthly membership | First 2 months FREE (save $10/yr) |
| Team TCL Leader Monthly membership | First 2 months FREE (save $30/yr) |