LCF 2026 PREVIEW DAVID GREENWOOD-HAIGH


JOINS LONDON CHOCOLATE FORUM KEYNOTE PROGRAMME


International chocolate consultant David Greenwood-Haigh joins London Chocolate Forum 2026 to reveal how unlocking the potential of the whole cocoa fruit could transform sustainability, innovation and farmer livelihoods.


L


ondon Chocolate Forum 2026 is delighted to announce that David Greenwood-Haigh, award- winning chocolatier, international


chocolate consultant and founder of Coeur de Xocolat, will deliver a keynote titled “Redeeming the 82%: Creating More Value from the Whole Cocoa Fruit.” For decades, the chocolate industry


has focused on producing better cocoa beans through improvements in quality, fermentation and sustainability. Yet one striking statistic remains largely overlooked: approximately 82% of the cocoa fruit is typically underutilised or discarded during conventional chocolate production. David’s keynote asks a simple but transformative question—what if the industry’s greatest opportunity lies not in producing more cocoa, but in creating greater value from the fruit that is already being harvested? Drawing on more than ten years of hands-on work


with cocoa farmers,


researchers, universities, chefs and chocolate makers, David will present practical examples of how the whole cocoa fruit can become a catalyst for innovation, sustainability and economic opportunity. Rather than focusing solely on cocoa beans, his work explores the untapped potential of cocoa juice, pulp, husks, vinegar, fermented ingredients and other by-products that can be transformed into commercially valuable food and beverage products. Through his Redeeming the 82%


initiative, David has taught bean-to-bar chocolate production in cocoa-growing communities, collaborated with hotel chefs to develop contemporary culinary applications for cocoa by-products, and worked alongside organisations including the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to strengthen knowledge sharing throughout the cocoa value chain. His efforts have also enabled more than thirty Ghanaian cocoa


12 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • JULY 2026


yields alone. Organisations including the World Cocoa Foundation have highlighted the importance of diversification, innovation and value creation at origin as key components of a more resilient and sustainable cocoa economy. Welcoming David to the programme, Kiran


APPROXIMATELY 82% OF THE COCOA FRUIT IS


TYPICALLY UNDERUTILISED OR DISCARDED DURING


CONVENTIONAL CHOCOLATE PRODUCTION


professionals, farmers and entrepreneurs to visit the UK for bean-to-bar training and industry engagement, helping build lasting partnerships between producing and consuming countries. The keynote comes at an important


moment for the global cocoa sector. With climate pressures, rising production costs and volatile cocoa prices placing unprecedented strain on cocoa-growing communities, the industry is increasingly recognising that improving farmer incomes requires more than increasing


Grewal, Editor of Kennedy’s Confection and organiser of London Chocolate Forum 2026, said: “David has spent decades championing a more holistic view of cocoa—one that looks beyond the bean and asks how we can create greater value for the people and communities at the very beginning of the supply chain. His work perfectly reflects the conversations our industry needs to be having today, combining sustainability, innovation and practical collaboration in a way that benefits everyone from farmers to manufacturers. I have no doubt this will be one of the most inspiring and thought- provoking sessions of the Forum.” A respected judge for the Academy


of Chocolate Awards, the International Chocolate Awards and the Great Taste Awards, as well as a UK Department for Business and Trade Export Champion, David brings more than forty years of experience spanning chocolate manufacturing, gastronomy and international cocoa development. His recently published book, Passport to Cacao, captures many of the remarkable people, places and innovations that have shaped his journey and the wider cocoa industry. Combining real-world experience with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and collaboration, David Greenwood-Haigh’s keynote promises to challenge delegates to rethink what cocoa can become.


Get your early bird tickets for the London Chocolate Forum now using the QR code.


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