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**When Big Chocolate Ghosts Cocoa**

2h ago · 6 sources · launch

Chocolate without cocoa is not a fringe science project anymore. It is showing up on shelf.

Cargill and Voyage Foods just introduced NextCoa, a cocoa-free confectionery alternative designed to help manufacturers keep chocolate-like flavor profiles as climate pressures and supply chain disruptions hit the global cocoa market. At the same time, Mars Inc. is taking its first real swing. In Germany, Balisto is launching a cocoa-free trail mix made with Planet A Foods’ ChoViva, sold exclusively at Rewe from April to October 2026 as a pilot.

ChoViva is made from fermented sunflower seeds blended with sugar, plant-based fats and milk powder. It already appears in more than 120 products across 10 countries, with partners including Aldi, Kaufland and even a limited-edition run with Lindt & Sprüngli. Nestlé has also added a cocoa-free chocolate alternative to its Choco Crossies Snack Vibes range in Germany, clearly signposted on pack.

Why it matters. This is not a niche vegan swap. It is mainstream confectionery hedging its core ingredient. When Mars and Nestlé start testing and locking in permanent listings, cocoa-free stops being a backup plan and starts becoming a parallel supply chain.

Quick take. The real shift is psychological. Once consumers accept that “chocolate” can come from fermented sunflower seeds, the definition of chocolate gets blurry. And when definitions get blurry, formulation becomes fair game.

Key facts

  • Cargill and Voyage Foods are introducing a new cocoa-free confectionery alternative called NextCoa aimed at helping manufacturers maintain chocolate-like flavor profiles amid climate pressures and supply chain disruptions in the global cocoa market.
  • Mars is launching a Balisto trail mix in Germany that uses a cocoa-free chocolate alternative made with Planet A Foods’ ChoViva ingredient.
  • The Balisto trail mix will be sold exclusively at Rewe supermarkets from April to October 2026 as a pilot launch.
  • Planet A Foods’ ChoViva is made from fermented sunflower seeds blended with sugar, plant-based fats and milk powder to create a cocoa-free chocolate alternative.
  • ChoViva features in more than 120 products across 10 countries, with partnerships including Aldi, Kaufland and a limited-edition run with Lindt & Sprüngli.
  • Nestlé recently launched its Choco Crossies Snack Vibes range in Germany as a permanent addition using a cocoa-free chocolate alternative, clearly signposted on pack.
  • Other companies developing cocoa-free chocolate alternatives include Win-Win, Foreverland and Voyage Foods, which has partnered with Cargill on its NexCoa ingredient.
  • April to October 2026
  • more than 120 products
  • 10 countries

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