Cargill wins 2026 Edison Award for cocoa-free NextCoa chocolate alternative

Cargill has won a 2026 Edison Award for its cocoa-free confectionery innovation NextCoa, developed in partnership with Voyage Foods, as the company looks to address volatility in global cocoa supply chains.

• Cargill won a 2026 Edison Award for NextCoa, a cocoa-free confectionery alternative developed in partnership with Voyage Foods using plant-based ingredients.
• The product was designed to deliver a chocolate-like taste and experience while improving affordability and reducing reliance on constrained cocoa supply chains.
• The award marked the fourth consecutive year Cargill’s innovations have been recognized by the Edison Awards program.

The award, presented in the Consumer Food Innovations category, recognized solutions that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and expand consumer options across the food system. It marked the fourth consecutive year the company’s innovations have been named among the winners.

NextCoa was developed as an alternative to traditional chocolate, using plant-based ingredients to replicate the taste and sensory experience consumers associate with cocoa-based products. The approach aimed to provide food manufacturers with a more flexible formulation option at a time when cocoa markets have faced increasing pressure from supply constraints and rising costs.

Florian Schattenmann, Chief Technology Officer at Cargill, said the recognition reflected the company’s broader innovation strategy. “By combining deep food expertise with innovation and new technologies, we are reimagining how food is made at scale,” he said. “This recognition reflects the talent of our teams and the meaningful progress we’re delivering with our partners and customers.”

The development of NextCoa formed part of a strategic collaboration between Cargill and Voyage Foods, a food technology company focused on creating alternatives to traditional commodity ingredients. By removing cocoa from the formulation, the partners aimed to reduce exposure to supply chain disruptions while maintaining the indulgent characteristics expected from chocolate products.

The innovation was also designed to support manufacturers looking to balance cost pressures with consumer expectations. By offering a chocolate-like experience without relying on cocoa, NextCoa provided an additional pathway for product development, particularly in categories where pricing and ingredient availability have become increasingly challenging.

Adam Maxwell, CEO and founder of Voyage Foods, emphasized the importance of scaling the technology through partnership. “Partnering with Cargill, a leader in the food industry, is the perfect way to scale our solutions globally so food manufacturers can integrate non-cocoa confectionery alternatives into their portfolios,” he said. “Together, we’re amplifying our impact on people and the planet.”

The Edison Awards, established in 1987 and named after inventor Thomas Edison, recognize excellence in product and service innovation across industries. Winners are selected by a panel of peers from industry, academia, and innovation sectors, with entries evaluated on concept, value, and impact.

For Cargill, the recognition highlighted ongoing efforts to develop ingredient solutions that respond to shifting market dynamics, particularly in areas where traditional supply chains are under strain.