As climate volatility, supply constraints and price instability increasingly affect cocoa production, brands are under pressure to rethink how they deliver indulgence at scale. NextCoa™ responds directly to this shift by decoupling chocolate-like experiences from cocoa dependency, creating new formulation flexibility while maintaining consumer appeal.
NextCoa™ is a breakthrough confectionery alternative to chocolate, developed through a strategic partnership between Cargill and food technology pioneer Voyage Foods. Created using revalorised grape and sunflower seeds, NextCoa™ delivers the indulgent taste and sensory experience consumers expect from chocolate without relying on cocoa, offering a scalable, commercially viable solution to some of the food industry’s most pressing challenges.
Delivering indulgence without cocoa dependency
The innovation combines Voyage Foods’ proprietary technology with Cargill’s global ingredient expertise, manufacturing scale and deep application knowledge across confectionery, bakery and more. Its versatility across formats makes it a practical solution for product developers, while its label-friendly positioning and indulgent taste profile align with evolving consumer expectations.
NextCoa™’s cost-stable inputs and globally scalable manufacturing footprint enable food and beverage brands to innovate with greater confidence, even amid market volatility. By reducing reliance on cocoa, the platform also offers manufacturers additional flexibility at a time when cocoa supply and pricing remain under significant pressure.
Building a more sustainable platform for indulgence
Sustainability performance sits at the core of the innovation. Life Cycle Assessment data shows that NextCoa™ can deliver up to 99% lower water use, 93% lower land use and 67% lower carbon emissions compared with conventional chocolate. These third-party verified LCA claims support growing consumer demand for more sustainable products while helping advance corporate climate and water stewardship targets.
By using revalorised side streams from grape seeds and sunflower seeds, NextCoa™ also helps reduce waste and promote circularity. As the platform expands and adapts to additional side streams, these benefits have the potential to scale globally, aligning business growth with measurable environmental outcomes.
As a result, NextCoa™ represents a new platform for indulgent innovation – one that allows the industry to rethink chocolate experiences for a more resilient and sustainable future without compromising on taste.
