VEVEY, SWITZERLAND — Nestle S.A.’s transition toward manufacturing products perceived as authentic continues. The company announced Aug. 31 all cocoa used in the formulation of its KitKat branded bars will be from sustainably sourced cocoa beginning during the first quarter of 2016.
Nestle already is using sustainably-sourced cocoa in the manufacture of some products in regional markets, but this announcement extends the practice worldwide, according to the company.
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| Sandra Martinez, head of confectionery for Nestle. |
“Sustainable cocoa sourcing helps safeguard the livelihoods of farming communities and delivers higher quality cocoa beans,” said Sandra Martinez, head of confectionery for Nestle. “This announcement will only strengthen consumer trust in KitKat as a responsible brand.”
The initiative, which coincides with the KitKat brand’s 80th anniversary, is part of Nestle’s commitment to source 150,000 tonnes of sustainably produced cocoa by 2017 as part of the Nestle Cocoa Plan. The Nestle Cocoa Plan aims to improve the lives of cocoa farming communities and the quality of the cocoa Nestle purchases.
It has been a busy year for Nestle when it comes to product reformulation. This past June the company announced plans to remove artificial flavors and reduce the amount of sodium in its frozen pizza and snack products by the end of 2015.
That announcement was preceded in February when Nestle’s U.S. business unit said it would remove all flavors perceived as artificial and Food and Drug Administration-certified colors from all of its chocolate candy products by the end of 2015. The products prominently will display on the label that they are manufactured without the use of artificial colors or flavors, according to the company.
