Puratos introduces Cacao-Trace cocoa in chocolate compound products in Canada
The move strengthens Canada‘s role in the global sustainability agenda, ensuring that locally produced chocolate compounds contribute to international efforts to improve the welfare of farming communities.
CANADA – Puratos, a global leader in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients, has rolled out Cacao-Trace-certified cocoa across several compound chocolate products manufactured at its Foleys facility in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
This expansion integrates the company’s longstanding sustainability initiative into more locally produced items, responding to North American consumer trends where 60% prioritize fair farmer incomes and 67% demand supply chain transparency, per Puratos’ Taste Tomorrow 2025 research.
The Cacao-Trace program partners directly with cocoa farmers and post-harvest centers, rewarding superior beans with a Quality Premium and a Chocolate Bonus of €0.10 (US$0.115) per kilogram sold, funneled straight to communities for education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
These payments can boost farmer incomes by two to five extra months annually, funding schools, maternity wards, and clean-water projects while advancing agroforestry and reforestation for climate-resilient plantations.
Optimized fermentation ensures exceptional flavor, linking premium taste to verifiable social impact beyond standard certifications.
By embedding Cacao-Trace into its Canadian operations, Puratos is setting new benchmarks for responsibility and innovation in the chocolate sector.
The move strengthens Canada’s role in the global sustainability agenda, ensuring that locally produced chocolate compounds contribute to international efforts to improve the welfare of farming communities.
It also positions Puratos as a leader in traceable, ethical chocolate production, appealing to both industrial clients and end consumers who prioritize sustainability.
CEO Pierre Tossut emphasized the dual focus on industry-leading responsibility and innovation, stating the program delivers higher-quality chocolate while uplifting origins.
Produced at Foleys, a hub with decades of expertise, these compounds support Canadian bakers in creating chocolates for pastries, snacks, and confections, aligning with clean-label and sustainable sourcing demands.
In the global food sector, Puratos’ move boosts cocoa supply chains critical to baking and nutrition products across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, where volatile prices and ethical sourcing pressures are mounting.
It future-proofs businesses amid artisan trends and industrial scalability, enhancing biodiversity and farmer livelihoods in key origins.
As competitors chase traceability, Cacao-Trace sets a benchmark for shared prosperity in chocolate value chains.
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