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Cargill and Voyage Foods are bringing cocoa-free confectionery alternative NextCoa to the North American market, launching initially in the United States as manufacturers seek more sustainable and supply-resilient ingredient solutions.
The new product line is designed to deliver the flavour and indulgent experience associated with traditional chocolate without using cocoa, combining plant-based ingredients such as grape seeds with conventional chocolate-making processes.
The launch comes as the global cocoa sector continues to face pricing volatility, supply chain disruption and sustainability pressures, prompting increased interest in alternative ingredients and reformulated confectionery products.
Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, vice president and managing director of Cocoa and Chocolate for Cargill Food North America, said: “The NextCoa line is about expanding choice, not replacing chocolate but redefining what’s possible. It unlocks a new way for manufacturers to create the flavors and indulgent experiences people love while building resilience into the food system."
According to the companies, NextCoa delivers a 67% lower carbon footprint compared with conventional chocolate formulations while also addressing allergen concerns. The product is formulated without dairy, soy, peanuts or tree nuts and is certified vegan, Kosher pareve and Halal suitable.
The range combines Voyage Foods’ patented ingredient technology with Cargill’s global ingredient sourcing and distribution network to scale commercial adoption across food manufacturing sectors.
Adam Maxwell, CEO and founder of Voyage Foods, said: “We built Voyage Foods to rethink how the world’s favourite foods are made. With Cargill, we can scale that vision, making our approach to chocolatey-like foods accessible to even more manufacturers.”
The US launch includes two varieties: Mild, designed to replicate milk chocolate-style flavour profiles, and Dark Mild, which blends darker cocoa-style notes with milk chocolate characteristics.
The products are intended for multiple applications, including inclusions for snack bars, bakery and ice cream, as well as coatings for confectionery products such as truffles and snacks.
Under the companies’ commercial agreement, Cargill will serve as the exclusive global B2B distributor for Voyage Foods products. Distribution in the United States will be supported through ingredient partners, including Batory Foods, Blendtek Ingredients and Gillco Ingredients, with plans to expand availability into Canada.