Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Supplier News

Manufacturing News

Ardent Mills Introduces Cocoa Replace to Address Cost and Supply Instability

Ardent Mills Cocoa Replace Brownie

Image courtesy of Ardent Mills.

May 16, 2025

Ardent Mills recently introduced Cocoa Replace — a wheat-based, clean-label solution to cocoa powder — developed in response to customer needs for ingredient flexibility, cost control and supply assurance. Designed to replace 25% of cocoa powder in cakes, brownies, cookies and muffins, the Cocoa Replace is the latest innovation in Ardent Mills’ portfolio of label-friendly ingredient solutions.

Ardent Mills’ Cocoa Replace is being introduced at a pivotal moment for food manufacturers, as ongoing ingredient volatility challenges cost management and supply chain assurance. With cocoa prices rising nearly 400% over the past decade, this solution helps brands maintain product flavor and performance while navigating pressures — from supply disruption to evolving consumer demand for cleaner, simpler ingredients.

Consumer-Friendly

The Cocoa Replace can be substituted for up to 25% of cocoa powder in standard formulations. Unlike other solutions on the market, the Cocoa Replace is a single-ingredient product and, therefore, requires a minimal label change in wheat-based goods — streamlining reformulation for manufacturers and protecting brand trust on the shelf. It is also vegan, kosher-certified and non-GMO.

Recognizing the challenges to replicating cocoa flavor in a replacement product, Ardent Mills validated the solution through sensory trials with trained panels and consumers. Results from sensory screening trials by sensory experts and consumers demonstrated that the Cocoa Replace closely matches cocoa powder in sensory experience and acceptability, making it an alternative to cocoa in baking applications, up to 25%.

“(The) Cocoa Replace is a targeted response to cocoa market volatility, but it’s also part of a broader strategy,” says Angie Goldberg, chief growth officer at Ardent Mills. “We’re focused on helping our customers build resilience into their supply chains and formulation strategies — supporting not just the challenges they face today, but (also) the ones coming next.”

Creating Customer Solutions

The Cocoa Replace reflects Ardent Mills’ ongoing effort to address customer challenges through innovation — helping customers strengthen supply reliability, reduce ingredient costs and respond to shifting market demands. Like Ardent Mills’ Egg Replace, the Cocoa Replace is part of a pipeline designed to help food brands adapt faster and reformulate with confidence.

“(The) Cocoa Replace is a powerful example of how Ardent Mills equips customers to navigate disruption with practical, high-impact solutions,” says Sergio Machado, senior director of research and development at Ardent Mills. “This ingredient innovation showcases our R&D agility and our ability to collaborate closely with customers to transform real-time market challenges — whether rising input costs, clean-label reformulations or shifting consumer expectations — into scalable, commercial-ready innovations.”

KEYWORDS: alternative dairy clean labels supply chain issues wheat

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Cleaning | Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Kraft Heinz DeKalb Distribution Center Rendering

Kraft Heinz Upgrades U.S. Manufacturing Facilities

FMTE Formed by Four Food Manufacturing Companies

Coalition Unites Europe’s Food Manufacturing Technologies and Equipment Sector

Sanitation worker spraying water

Fighting the Foodborne Bacteria War with Cleaning and Sanitation

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 17, 2025

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ State of the Cold Chain

Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

July 10, 2025

Smarter Innovation With Practical AI: How to Stay Agile in Uncertain Times

Regulatory updates, supply chain shifts and evolving consumer demands keep the food and beverage industry in a state of constant change.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • Cargillâ??s expanded Belgian chocolate facility to aid manufacturing customers

    Cocoa, chocolate companies unite to address climate change

    See More
  • Ardent Mills logo

    Ardent Mills to Expand Colorado Mill

    See More
  • Cocoa powder

    T. Hasegawa Introduces Cocoa Powder Replacer

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Functionalized_Carbohydrate.gif

    Functionalizing Carbohydrates for Food Applications

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • July 10, 2025

    Smarter Innovation With Practical AI: How to Stay Agile in Uncertain Times

    Regulatory updates, supply chain shifts and evolving consumer demands keep the food and beverage industry in a state of constant change.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing