Barry Callebaut Adopts AI for Recipe Innovation Amid Cocoa Cost Pressures

Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has formalized a strategic agreement with the Chilean food-tech firm NotCo AI to integrate artificial intelligence into its process for developing chocolate recipes. This collaboration is a direct response to sustained market headwinds, primarily the elevated cost of cocoa and evolving consumer preferences demanding novel product profiles.

Barry Callebaut, which supplies ingredients for one in every four chocolate and cocoa products globally, is deploying this technology to build resilience against volatile agricultural conditions that have historically strained supply chains. The integration centers on NotCo's proprietary artificial intelligence platform, named Giuseppe. This system is designed to analyze extensive ingredient data, simulating potential substitutions to maintain or enhance quality standards while simultaneously reducing expenses.

The initiative aims to establish an end-to-end AI innovation hub, merging Barry Callebaut's century of expertise in formulation, global manufacturing, and supply chain logistics with NotCo AI's computational models. The pilot project will specifically test whether AI-driven formulation can significantly shorten development timelines and increase the success rate for new product introductions.

This partnership occurs within a period of intense pressure across the confectionary sector, marked by cocoa prices frequently near record highs, compelling manufacturers to seek cost-reduction methods, often through recipe adjustments. Furthermore, the industry is navigating consumer demands for health-forward formulations and compliance with standards such as Nutri-Score. NotCo's Giuseppe platform has previously supported product launches for major consumer packaged goods companies, including Unilever’s Magnum, Kraft Heinz, and Ferrero.

Barry Callebaut CEO Peter Feld indicated that this move aligns with the company's broader digitalization strategy to accelerate innovation and speed to market for its clients. This development signals a significant industry pivot toward embedding artificial intelligence in food production for both innovation and scalability. By combining Barry Callebaut's knowledge base with Giuseppe, the partnership seeks to accelerate product development cycles that traditionally relied on manual research and lengthy trial-and-error phases.