Business leaders, stakeholders to meet for Chocovision 2016

CHOCOVISION, organized by Barry Callebaut is a biennial event that gathers together international business leaders and stakeholders in Davos, Switzerland to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the global cocoa, chocolate and confectionery industry. The conference on 7-9 June expects some 200 participants along the cocoa value chain: farmers, cocoa processors, chocolate makers, FMCG producers, retailers, and investors, as well as politicians and NGOs.

Discussions will revolve around the theme: Make It Matter. From cocoa to chocolate – Explore. Empower. Exchange.  

Among the 30 speakers and panelists to be at Chocovision are: Tidjane Thiam (CEO, Credit Suisse), Olaf Koch (Chairman of the Management Board, Metro Group), Markus Conrad (CEO, Tchibo), Calvin Grieder (Chairman & CEO, Bühler), Aldo Uva (Chief Officer Operating Supply and Strategic Business Platforms,  Ferrero), Patrick Firmenich (Vice-Chairman Firmenich); experts such as Till Dudler (Managing Director EALA Consumer Goods & Services Strategy, Accenture), Kate Robertson (Founder ‘One Young World’ and former Global President and UK Chairman at Havas), Prof. Pierre Chandon (The L’Oréal Chaired Professor of Marketing, Innovation and Creativity, INSEAD), Dr. Jason Clay, (SVP, Markets and Executive Director, the Markets Institute, World Wildlife Fund); stakeholders along the cocoa value chain such as political leaders from cocoa growing countries, Massandjé Touré-Litsé (Director General, Conseil du Café-Cacao), Dr. Steven K. Opuni (Chief Executive, Ghana Cocoa Board), cocoa farmers from Ivory Coast and Ghana,  industry representatives from Mars, The Hershey Company, Olam International, Barry Callebaut, representatives of the International Cocoa Initiative ICI, IDH, Swisscontact and VOICE Network, and more.   

The industry while flourishing has a complex and highly fragmented supply chain. Some of its present concerns are with farmers who see themselves as stuck in poverty; sustainability issues, changing consumer habits, rise in obesity, and an evolving digital world.

The Opening Night will feature Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick (Global Head of Citizenship, KPMG International), who will discuss the power of partnerships between business and civil society to empower smallholder producers economically and socially.

International football player from Ivory Coast, Didier Drogba will deliver the keynote. Didier established the Didier Drogba Foundation which aims to “make it matter” by providing support to the Ivorian people and vulnerable Africa in the areas of health and education.

Chocovision 2016 is supported by Accenture (premium partner), Bühler, Credit Suisse, Ferrero, Firmenich,The Hershey Company, IDH, Olam Cocoa , BASF, Le Conseil du Café-Cacao, Ghana Cocoa Board, IOI Loders Croklaan, Prova  and Ruchi and Barry Callebaut (organizer).