Laatst bijgewerkt op: 04/06/2026
April shows well where the world of coffee and cocoa is moving. From a high-profile merger in the Dutch chocolate sector to a big move toward 100% specialty coffee and a clear warning from the cocoa chain itself. In this update, we list three developments that say something about scale, quality and the future of sustainable production.
Dutch chocolate companies Hands Off and Chocolatemakers are merging under the name The Chocolate Impact Group. The new group includes the Hands Off, CLARO and Chocolatemakers brands.
The merger comes at a time when the cocoa market is under pressure from climate issues, poor harvests and rising prices. The collaboration combines Chocolatemakers’ regenerative approach with Hands Off’s greater volume and reach. The goal is to bring more sustainable chocolate out of its niche and make it accessible to a wider audience.
According to founders Rodney Nikkels and Kitty Smeeten, the collaboration is about scale and impact. The ambitions are concrete: grow to a turnover of 20 million euros by 2030 and actively contribute to the recovery of cocoa soil and biodiversity.
The Dutch coffee and tea specialist. Kaldi has renewed its coffee assortment and henceforth opts entirely for 100% specialty coffee. This shifts the focus emphatically to quality, origin and taste, without losing sight of the general public.
Specialty coffee is rated on quality, traceability and flavor profile. By taking the full range to this level, Kaldi aims to deepen the quality of its offerings while keeping them accessible to a large group of consumers. According to the company, good coffee should be the standard, not the exception.
The revamped range consists of blends, single origins and specials, with a clear focus on origins and flavor profiles. In the stores, customers are actively guided in discovering coffees and brewing methods.
The new coffees will be presented during the Franchise+ Fair and the Amsterdam Coffee Festival. From May 1, they will be available through stores and web shop.
The Rainforest Alliance is calling on chocolate producers, traders and retailers to look beyond short-term developments in the cocoa market. Strong price fluctuations are increasingly putting pressure on cocoa farmers’ livelihoods.
According to CEO Santiago Gowland, farmers take the hit first when prices fall. That translates directly into less food security, school dropout rates and less investment in sustainable agriculture. This also jeopardizes the long-term stability of the entire cocoa chain.
The organization therefore advocates long-term purchasing agreements instead of dependence on spot market prices. These should provide more income security and room to invest in future-proof agriculture.
Nanga Koné, Country Manager Côte d’Ivoire at the Rainforest Alliance, also stresses that price declines undermine the resilience of the entire chain. According to the Rainforest Alliance, a living income for farmers is the basis for a sustainable sector.
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