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# September 2025 News & AMA | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 147
- URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/september-2025-news-ama-podsavechocolate-ep-147/
- Published: 2025-09-10T19:21:42.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-11T21:32:02.000Z
- Description: Episode 147 of #PodSaveChocolate features chocolate news that’s fit to eat and AMA/Ask me Anything (about chocolate and cocoa) for September 2025.
- Author: Clay Gordon
- Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream

**When and Where to Watch**

🗓️

The stream airs LIVE at 11:00 ****PDT/MST** (12:00 MDT, 1:00 CDT, 2:00 EDT), on Friday, September 12th, 2025.  
  
Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode.

Click on this (shareable) link to watch on YouTube. Please subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community.

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Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other.

[Watch this episode on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7371621231533441024-%5Fj7N?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) 

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Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). 

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## **Episode 147 Overview**

People participating live can ask **AMA** questions in the chat at any point during the episode. **News** topics lined up to be covered include:

### **The Ongoing Saga of the Cost of Cocoa**

| **MARKETS**                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [ICCO Pricing Stats](https://www.icco.org/statistics/?ref=thechocolatelife.com#tab-id-1)                                                                                                                                       |
| [Futures Overview](https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC%2A0/overview?ref=thechocolatelife.com) / [Futures Prices](https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC%2A0/futures-prices?ref=thechocolatelife.com) – Barchart.com |
| [Graph](https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/cocoa?ref=thechocolatelife.com) – Trading Economics                                                                                                                             |
| **News** The Ivorian mid-crop harvest is forecast at \~400,000 MT this year, down 9% from last year’s 440,000 MT.                                                                                                              |
| **TL;DR** — 1) Tariffs. 2) Weather. 3) Does anyone have a clue?                                                                                                                                                                |

| **OTHER NEWS**                                                                                   | Markets, Mergers, Opinion, and more                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [**News**](https://www.just-food.com/news/new-trump-tariff-exemptions/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | Cocoa, coffee, and tea are among new US tariff exemptions; bananas, avocados, cinnamon, and turmeric have also been exempted.                                                                                                                                                        |
| **M&A**                                                                                          | Kraft Heinz to split                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **M&A**                                                                                          | Keurig Dr Pepper to acquire JD Peet’s and then [divorce](https://www.keurigdrpepper.com/keurig-dr-pepper-to-acquire-jde-peets-and-subsequently-separate-into-two-independent-companies-a-leading-refreshment-beverage-player-and-a-global-coffee-champion/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) |
| **M&A**                                                                                          | Mars-Kellanova merger update                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **M&A**                                                                                          | Unilever is spinning off its ice cream business and Ben & Jerry’s wants out.                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **M&A**                                                                                          | Hartree to acquire Touton? Touton handles \~10% of global cocoa trade, and builds on its July 2025 acquisition of ED&F Man                                                                                                                                                           |
| **OpEd**                                                                                         | The Future of Callebaut                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **News**                                                                                         | Cargill suspends cocoa grinding operations in Côte d’Ivoire for the first time in decades, citing worsening bean quality                                                                                                                                                             |
| **News?**                                                                                        | Introduced in August 1935, KitKat turned 90 as Nestlé sacks CEO                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |

### **Other Scheduled News Topics In This Episod**e

[INHABIT - Global Corridor of BiodiversityINHABIT protects vital ecosystems and drives rural innovation through community-led biocultural hubs. Join us in shaping a global corridor of biodiversity.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-18.png)INHABITINHABIT![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/foundation-logo.svg)](https://www.inhabit.one/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

Protecting vital ecosystems while supporting rural development.

[Study Says Liberica and Excelsa Are Separate Species with Implications for CultivationRecent genetic analysis revealed that liberica — which has historically been considered a single coffee species — may actually encompass three distinct species.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180-18.png)Daily Coffee News by Roast MagazineNick Brown![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/liberica-1.jpg)](https://dailycoffeenews.com/2025/08/21/study-says-liberica-and-excelsa-are-separate-species-with-implications-for-cultivation/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

Recent genetic analysis revealed that liberica — which has historically been considered a single coffee species — may actually encompass three distinct species.

[The Backbone of Coffee Standards Is About to Break. And the Fallout Is Coming for Your Morning Cup.The best part of waking up will never be the same.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/icon.180x180-1.png)SlateN.C. Stevens![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/149940fe-c9ea-4cf5-8565-35bec84e1198.jpeg)](https://slate.com/life/2025/08/best-coffee-brands-q-grading-license-cqi-sca-takeover.html?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

What are the parallels in cocoa/chocolate?

[The sweetener trust crisis brands can’t ignoreConsumers are losing trust in artificial sweeteners, pushing brands like Coca-Cola to rethink their recipes. Health concerns, taste issues, and demand for clean-label products are driving a shift back to sugar, even as sugar itself remains under fire.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180-19.png)ConfectioneryNews.comDonna Eastlake![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/PC55LRSFKNE7HOMT2EJBHX56BU.jpg)](https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2025/08/21/the-sweetener-trust-crisis-brands-cant-ignore/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

[Top 5 confectionery trends for Autumn/Winter 2025Discover the hottest confectionery trends for Autumn/Winter 2025\. From functional sweets with health benefits to indulgent treats, premium ingredients, bold global flavours, and festive favourites for Halloween and Christmas - this season is all about innovation, wellness, and celebration.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180-21.png)ConfectioneryNews.comDonna Eastlake![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/W4KLSHEYKNATJLA3IO74X2S3O4-1.jpg)](https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2025/08/05/top-5-confectionery-trends-for-autumnwinter-2025/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

[Experts warn of major disappointment for chocolate lovers this year: ‘We either reduce the amount … or remove it altogether’The biggest hazelnut crop in the world is slumping, raising concerns for chocolate companies and consumers alike.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/cropped-Logo-TCD-Viridis_IG-1-1.jpg)The Cool DownNicole Westhoff![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/hazelnut-shortageimage-recZE5QYTU88furJU.jpg)](https://www.thecooldown.com/sustainable-food/hazelnut-shortage-chocolate-turkey/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

[The SunThe Best for News, Sport, Showbiz, Celebrities![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/icon-e1459786005667.png)The Sun![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/icon-e1459786005667.png)](https://www.the-sun.com/news/15155746/dubai-chocolate-costco-recall-label-issue/?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

Dubai chocolate sold at Costco in US recalled over ingredient that can pose health risk.

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### **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.

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### **Episode Hashtags and Socials**

#News #AMA #Trends  
#cocoa #cacao #cacau  
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate  
#PodSaveChoc #PSC  
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife

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### **Future Episodes**

🗓️

None scheduled at the time this was published.

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### **#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.

[Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/)

[#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/)

[PodSaveChocolateHosted by Clay Gordon, the creator and moderator of TheChocolateLife.com, #PodSaveChocolate covers a wide variety of topics in the worlds of cocoa and chocolate. The video versions of this podcast are hosted and archived on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Click on the PodSaveChocolate link in the top nav on TheChocolateLife for the links to the post accompanying each episode.![](https://pnc.st/static/img/256x256.png)Pinecast![](https://social.pinecast.net/preview_card/podcasts/covers/d3730dca-0711-4720-9ef3-3b18918c1f0d/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080.jpg?title=PodSaveChocolate)](https://pnc.st/s/podsavechocolate?ref=thechocolatelife.com)

Audio-only podcasts

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