Sector’s major talents recognised in Cocoa Radar industry list

This time of year, perhaps the most widely observed lists that the world naturally focuses on are those made by none other than Santa for his ‘naughty and nice’ folks for the delivery of Christmas presents.

So, it was a genuine surprise, and indeed privilege, to discover that I had just been personally included in the top 10 of another new rating from the recently created Cocoa Radar news platform that has put forward its most influential people within the sector.

There are indeed some extremely worthy and esteemed candidates who are occupying this list – the sector in truth is packed full of so many unsung talents that are continuing to strive for greater equity within supply chains and for the wider betterment of the industry.

So, it was heartening to see that top place in Cocoa Radar’s top 10 went to a West African farmer, John Adamanor, based in East Ghana, who represents agricultural workers within the ABOCFA cooperative, battling to gain a fairer price for those working on the frontline of the industry who have not received anywhere near the sums that have been fetched on commodities markets (which touched $12,000 a tonne for cocoa in April), though this has come down a little in the past few months.

Second on the list is Antonie Fountain, of the Voice Network non-profit organisation, who has been a constant advocated for implementing the EUDR environmental laws for supply chains, and the wider cause of a fair deal for farmers working within cocoa, who made a welcome appearance as part of our Q&A at this year’s World Confectionery Conference.

The lists also includes president of the World Cocoa Foundation, Chris Vincent, who has recognised that there is great urgency surrounding greater support for farming communities, and particularly in relation to their payment and wider access to community training and facilities. He has also urged crucial wider collaboration across the sector, which is increasingly the norm.

Also making the lists is Jack Steijn, who is a co-founder of the highly respected Chocoa event that has placed the major issues surrounding cocoa sustainability at its heart, and has been a great supporter of farming communities operating within the industry. Others included on the list are the US-based president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association, John Downs, who has just been named among the Hill’s top 100 lobbyists for his support for the confectionery sector, who has also recognised the vital importance of working with organisations around the world to improve conditions within supply chains.

Hershey’s Tricia Brannigan, chief procurement officer, who has worked on improving sustainability within its operations also makes the list, along with Peter Feld, the recently introduce new CEO of Barry Callebaut who is overseeing a major period of digital transformation at the company – which has also placed sustainability within its cocoa supply chains at the centre of its policies.

Another notable name for the sector, Julia Ocampo, of Luker Chocolate makes the list, who has been a great supporter of sustainable cocoa production, as has the UK’s Sophie Jewett, MD of York Cocoa Works, who has also brought a great deal of personal passion to her engagement with the industry and belief in supporting farmers. She gave one of the stand-out performances at last year’s World Confectionery Conference and is just one of the many key stars who have been given some deserved recognition in this latest industry list.

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