INDUSTRY NEWS
Win-Win signs exclusive UK distribution agreement with Keylink
Food technology company Win-Win has signed an exclusive UK distribution agreement with Keylink Ltd, bringing its cocoa-free chocolate alternatives to the distributor’s customers for the first time. Under the partnership, Win-Win became
the first cocoa-free chocolate alternative brand listed in Keylink’s portfolio. A selection of products – including milk, dark and white alternatives – will be available in 10kg formats as Easymelt chips and bakestable drops for professional use. The agreement comes as the global
chocolate sector faces rising cocoa prices, supply volatility and long-term sustainability pressures linked to climate change and crop
disease. Win-Win positions its cocoa-free range as an alternative ingredient for manufacturers, bakers and chocolatiers looking to reduce dependence on cocoa. The products are made from cereals and
legumes, including rice, rather than cocoa beans. Win-Win uses a fermentation-based process to replicate chocolate flavour profiles, followed by conventional techniques such as roasting, grinding, refining and tempering. The company says the products are compatible with existing chocolate processing and baking applications. Mark Golder, chief executive of Win-Win, said
the partnership would improve UK access to alternative chocolate products as supply chain
Barry Callebaut outlines €250M investment plan for Wieze production site
pressures continue. Sanjeev Ramchandani, managing director
of Keylink Ltd, said the agreement enables the distributor to offer customers additional options amid ongoing cocoa supply challenges. Win-Win, founded in 2022, focuses on
developing cocoa-free chocolate alternatives using non-cocoa raw materials. Products are now available through Keylink, with a temporary price promotion running until the end of July 2026.
Tony’s Chocolonely reports revenue growth and expansion
of ethical cocoa sourcing Tony’s
Chocolonely has
reported double-digit revenue growth and an expansion of its ethical sourcing programme in its integrated impact and financial results for the year ending 30 September 2025. Revenue rose 20% year on
Barry Callebaut has detailed a multi-year investment plan of €250 million for its chocolate factory in Wieze, Belgium, alongside a further €125 million earmarked for its Halle facility. The Wieze site, which the company describes as the largest chocolate factory in the world, will be the primary focus of the investment programme. According to Barry Callebaut, the funding is intended to long-term production capacity. Part of the investment forms part of the group’s previously announced BC Next Level programme, with the remainder allocated through regular capital expenditure. The company said the Wieze masterplan includes upgrades to production lines, with a focus on food safety, quality and workplace safety. Planned developments also include site infrastructure changes, such as the construction of a ring road safety and reducing environmental impact. receive €125 million under a separate masterplan, reinforcing the group’s manufacturing footprint in Belgium. Barry Callebaut has operated in Wieze since 1911, when the Callebaut brand was founded. The company supplies chocolate and cocoa products to customers globally.
year to €240m, with total sales volumes up 4%. The company recorded an operating profit (EBIT) of €0.2m, an improvement of €3m on the previous year, while continuing to invest in production and distribution. The United States became
Tony’s largest market, with revenue growth of 50% year on year, overtaking the Netherlands for the first time. The UK and Ireland also delivered double- digit growth, with combined revenue rising 14% to €51.2m. Tony’s said its ethical
sourcing initiative, Tony’s Open Chain, sourced nearly 27,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans during the year, up 50%. The programme now works with more than 30,000 cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, a 60%
6 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • FEBRUARY 2026
increase year on year. Long- term partner cooperatives reported a child labour prevalence rate below 5%, compared with an industry average of 46.7%, while 99.99% of cocoa sourced through the programme was verified as deforestation-free. Chief executive Douglas Lamont said the results demonstrate the resilience of the company’s model and called on the wider industry to commit to paying higher cocoa prices to farmers to improve long-term resilience. Tony’s Open Chain, launched
in 2019, now includes more than 20 partner companies and 19 cooperatives. The company continues to invest in expanded production capacity in Belgium and introduced new product formats during the year.
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