FCIA Fine Chocolate Glossary

Value Chain

A flow of related processes, comprising different actors and activities, each adding value to a product or service as the flow moves downstream.

There are primary actors, secondary actors, and enabling factors that influence the value of the product or service at each stage in the chain.

In cocoa, the primary activities in the value chain are: cocoa farming, post-harvest processing, trading cocoa beans, manufacturing chocolate and cocoa derivatives (including cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa paste), production of finished consumer products, and the commercialization of those products.

Factors influencing the value and cost distribution across the value chain include:
1) type of downstream use (brand, marketing, performance);
2) government regulation and taxes;
3) type of cocoa, flavor and production methods;
4) evolution of world market prices.

Próximamente versión en español


Entry added: May 18, 2022
Verified on: September 14, 2023

Authored by

Marika van Santvoort, CEO and Founder, Pacha Cacao
Supply chain professional

Emily Stone, CEO and Founder, Uncommon Cacao
Supply chain professional

References

Global Cocoa Market Study,” Gaia Cacao, November 15, 2021

Comparative study on the distribution of value in European chocolate chains,” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Bureau d’analyse sociétale pour une information citoyenne, June 30, 2022

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