Bell unveils cocoa extender toolkit to achieve flavour parity with less cocoa

Unprecedented volatility is about to hit the cocoa business. Global cocoa production fell 14% in 2024, while prices skyrocketed to all-time highs, doubling per tonne (Mintel, 2024) (International Monetary Fund; Mintel).

Because of this, it is anticipated that retail chocolate prices would increase by an additional 30% in 2025 (Food Business News, 2024), which will have an impact on the entire supply chain. Manufacturers need to come up with strategies to balance taste, supply, and cost in the face of these growing demands.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances is presenting its Cocoa Extender Technical Guide, which uses patented technology to reduce applications by up to 30% without sacrificing the flavour of real cocoa. This innovation, which has been validated by Bell’s Sensory & Consumer Science Centre, enables businesses to confidently reformulate in the face of global cocoa volatility.

“Bell is committed to developing flavour innovation where we are passionate about crafting solutions that solve both short and long-term challenges,” shares Karen Graves, vice president, shared technical services, at Bell Flavors & Fragrances.

Bell’s Cocoa Extender Technology has been validated to preserve authentic cocoa taste, even with up to 30% less cocoa. Sensory testing confirmed that key flavour attributes — including overall cocoa, roasted, nutty, and bitter notes — remain intact, delivering flavour parity with full-cocoa samples. This ensures manufacturers can reduce cocoa content without sacrificing the indulgent taste consumers expect.

By showcasing application demos and flavour pairing strategies, the guide demonstrates how Bell’s Cocoa Extender works in practice while offering additional flavour options to round out cocoa profiles and meet evolving consumer preferences.

“Our priority is making sure that reduced-cocoa formulations still deliver the same depth and indulgence, and this technology achieves that balance. The strength of Bell’s R&D expertise ensures that performance is validated and reliable,” emphasises Benjamin Stanley, CRC, director, sweet applications, flavor R&D at Bell Flavors & Fragrances.

The Cocoa Extender Technical Guide also includes practical recommendations, usage levels, and formulation insights designed to accelerate product development. Backed by Bell’s global culinary expertise, on-trend prototypes, and market insights, the guide equips manufacturers with the tools to innovate quickly and effectively in a challenging marketplace.