EVENT NEWS
Global cocoa leaders convene for WCF Partnership Meeting 2026
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) will convene industry leaders, governments, farmers, civil society and financial institutions for its Partnership Meeting 2026, taking place on 17–18 February in Amsterdam. Held under the theme Securing Cocoa’s Future in a Changing World,
the two-day event will bring together more than 400 stakeholders from across the cocoa and chocolate value chain to address the structural, environmental and economic shifts reshaping the sector. The programme focuses on collaboration and shared solutions to ensure cocoa remains viable, sustainable and accessible for generations to come. Discussions will address the most pressing challenges facing cocoa today, including climate resilience, farmer income, regulatory change, access to finance, market volatility and long-term supply security. The agenda reflects a growing recognition that the next phase of sustainability must move beyond commitments to delivery, scale and measurable impact. “This Partnership Meeting comes at a critical inflection point for cocoa,” said Chris Vincent, President of the World Cocoa Foundation. “Climate
Museum of Failure makes UK debut at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026
The Museum of Failure will make its first-ever UK exhibition appearance in February at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026, bringing its globally recognised collection of famous flops, misguided ideas and misunderstood innovations to the UK packaging industry for the first time. The exhibition invites visitors
to explore how mistakes and misjudgements are not the opposite of innovation, but often its starting point. From Kodak’s early digital camera to modern AI misfires, the Museum of Failure curates examples of products, services and ideas that did not succeed, asking what can be learned from what went wrong. At Packaging Innovations &
Empack 2026, the experience will focus on how learning from failure can accelerate progress in materials development, packaging design, automation and sustainability. Founded by psychologist Dr Samuel West, the Museum of Failure has toured internationally since 2017, highlighting common patterns behind corporate misjudgements, including overconfidence, poor user understanding, technological tunnel vision and resistance to change.
Dr West commented: “Failure is not the opposite of progress; it is the engine that drives it. Every meaningful innovation is built on ideas that didn’t quite work or assumptions that turned out to be wrong. The Museum of Failure exists to make those stories visible, so people can learn from them rather than hide them.” Alongside the exhibition, the
Museum of Failure will host a dedicated workshop exploring how organisations can apply structured learning from past mistakes to improve packaging systems, de-risk automation projects and develop more realistic sustainability strategies. Josh Brooks,
Divisional
Director – Packaging Portfolio at Easyfairs, added: “Bringing the Museum of Failure to the UK for the first time is about giving the packaging community permission to think differently and make smarter, more resilient innovation decisions.” The Museum of Failure will
appear at Stand A11, Hall 2 at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026, taking place on 11–12 February at the NEC Birmingham.
pressures, regulatory change and market disruption are converging. The conversations we will have in Amsterdam are about how we collectively respond to secure a resilient future for farmers, companies and cocoa- growing landscapes.” The 2026 Partnership Meeting will feature senior voices from producing
and consuming countries, including representatives from cocoa-producing governments, international organisations, farmer organisations, sustainability bodies, financial institutions and the chocolate and cocoa industry. The programme combines high-level plenaries with focused sessions examining climate adaptation, farmer livelihoods, regulatory readiness, data and traceability, financing models and the future of cocoa in a rapidly changing global market. A central feature of the event is Cocoa TechXchange, taking place on
17 February. This dedicated space will showcase tools, technologies and partnerships that are translating innovation into practice, from digital platforms and traceability systems to climate-smart farming solutions.
The London Chocolate Forum announces brand- new venue for 2026
The organisers of the acclaimed London Chocolate Forum have confirmed that the 2026 edition of the world-leading chocolate industry gathering will take place this October at the iconic Hippodrome, London. Building on the remarkable success of the 2025 event — which drew hundreds of industry professionals, speakers and exhibitors from around the globe — the announcement has already sparked enthusiasm across the cocoa and chocolate sectors. Established by the team behind Kennedy’s Confection,
the London Chocolate Forum has become a must-attend annual event for anyone serious about chocolate — from producers and chocolatiers to suppliers and innovators. The 2025 forum featured keynote insights, dynamic networking and show-stopping product showcases that highlighted the boundless creativity and commercial energy of the industry. Organisers say that formal dates and the full agenda for
the 2026 programme will be revealed later this spring, but that planning is well underway for what promises to be an even bigger and more impactful gathering in the heart of London’s vibrant entertainment district. “We couldn’t be more excited about bringing the London
Chocolate Forum to The Hippodrome next October,” said Kiran Grewal, Editor of Kennedy’s Confection and an organiser of the LCF. “This forum brings the entire chocolate industry together like no other event — from bean growers to boutique chocolatiers and global brands — and it’s where bold ideas and vital connections really begin.” Industry leaders and chocolate professionals are already marking their calendars, anticipating announcements on speakers, sessions and opportunities to engage with peers and partners at what continues to be the premier forum for the global chocolate community.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025/26 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • 9
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