IN Brief:
- Nestlé Germany will launch a ChoViva-based Choco Crossies extension in April.
- Planet A Foods says its cocoa-free ingredient is already used in more than 120 products across 10 countries.
- Alternative chocolate systems are moving from pilot activity into mainstream branded confectionery.
Nestlé Germany is extending its Choco Crossies range with a ChoViva-based launch, giving one of Europe’s largest food companies a direct foothold in cocoa-free confectionery. The new Choco Crossies “Snack Vibes” line is due to launch in April 2026 and uses Planet A Foods’ cocoa-free ingredient in a branded retail product rather than a limited technical trial.
That is a notable step for a category that has largely been driven by start-ups, private label, and pilot launches. Planet A Foods said ChoViva is now used in more than 120 products across 10 countries, and its commercial partnership with Barry Callebaut gives the ingredient access to large-scale manufacturing and distribution channels.
ChoViva is primarily made from fermented, roasted sunflower seeds and oats, and Planet A Foods says it can cut CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional chocolate ingredients. The more immediate industrial attraction, however, is supply optionality. After two years of turbulence in cocoa availability and pricing, major confectionery manufacturers are clearly willing to test alternatives inside mainstream brand architecture.
ICCO’s latest market bulletin points to improving supply after the severe deficits seen a season earlier, but the market has not exactly returned to calm. That leaves room for cocoa-free and cocoa-reduced systems to move from innovation showcase to contingency tool, especially where manufacturers want pricing flexibility and a second sourcing route.
Planet A Foods said it is in talks with additional major brands over similar launches. Nestlé’s move suggests cocoa-free ingredients are no longer sitting at the edges of confectionery development; they are entering the core branded pipeline.
