Foreverland scales cocoa-free choruba with €6m boost

Italian foodtech firm Foreverland has announced a €6 million funding round, bringing its total capital to €9.4 million.

The investment signals a significant scale-up in the availability of Choruba, a carob-based, cocoa-free chocolate alternative designed specifically for industrial applications.

The round was led by existing backers Kost Capital and Maia Ventures, with new participation from CDP Venture Capital, Linfa agrifoodtech fund, and Newtree Impact.

While cocoa futures have begun to stabilise at approximately $3,000 per tonne in early 2026 — down from the record-breaking peaks of the previous two years — the market remains structurally fragile. Foreverland positions its Choruba platform as a future-proof ingredient that allows manufacturers to:

• De-risk supply chains: minimise exposure to West African harvest fluctuations.
• Stabilise margins: reduce the impact of cocoa price volatility on COGS (cost of goods sold).
• Meet ESG Targets: Choruba claims up to 90% less water usage and an 83% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional chocolate.

Moving beyond the start-up phase, Foreverland’s Italian facility has secured IFS (International Featured Standards) Food certification. This is a critical milestone for B2B procurement teams, guaranteeing the quality and safety standards required for high-volume confectionery production.

The company is currently capable of producing 500 tonnes per year in versatile formats, including:

• Chips and drops: for bakery and inclusion applications.
• Liquid form: for coatings and industrial moulding.
• Bake-stable variations: specifically engineered for high-heat processing.

“This round validates our execution as a reliable industrial partner,” said Massimo Sabatini, co-founder and CEO. “With IFS certification and demand accelerating, we are bringing in senior talent from the cocoa industry to support manufacturers at scale.”

Foreverland is leveraging this capital to hire senior commercial leaders from the global chocolate industry to lead expansions in Germany, France, and Italy.

The company is also carving out a niche in the high-growth “clean label” sector by launching a dedicated organic Choruba line. As the only current industrial-scale producer of an organic cocoa-free alternative, Foreverland is helping brands meet the growing consumer demand for “New World Chocolate”—products that prioritise health, functionality, and sustainability without sacrificing the sensory experience of traditional indulgence.

As confectionery giants increasingly incorporate cocoa extenders and alternatives to protect their portfolios, Foreverland’s expansion offers a timely solution.

Marco Gaiani, founding partner at Linfa, noted: “Cocoa-free alternatives can bridge sustainability, scale, and commercial potential. That’s how you create systemic change and emerge as a category leader in agrifoodtech.”