Already last year, Munich residents were able to taste the cocoa-free chocolate from Planet A Foods themselves: At the Munich ice cream parlor Eismeer on Pestalozzistraße, the world’s first cocoa-free chocolate ice cream was available for purchase. Now the startup has taken the next step and brought its first products with its chocolate alternative to supermarket shelves. The three new Kölln oat mueslis “Crunchy Waffle”, “Crunchy Hazel” and “Crunchy Berry” contain the cocoa-free chocolate alternative Choviva instead of cocoa-containing chocolate. They are available exclusively in participating Rewe stores.
Planet A Foods co-founder and CEO Maximilian Marquart says:
“We are proud to work with an established company like Peter Kölln, which has been driving innovative solutions for a more sustainable food industry for years.”
And Manfred Vondran, CEO of Peter Kölln, adds:
“We want to make it easier for people to eat in a resource-conscious and climate-friendly way through our products, allowing them to contribute to a better future. We achieve this by leveraging the great potential of regional oats and other plant-based raw materials. Our three new muesli varieties, the #VeganStars, which are made with the chocolate alternative Choviva, are a real innovation in the cereal aisle and support our goal of advancing the food transition with plant-based products.”
Planet A Foods aims to build an alternative supply chain
Choviva is produced from regional oats and sunflower seeds using an innovative and patented manufacturing process. Sara Marquart, co-founder and CTO of the company, explains the process:
“The taste and aroma of chocolate come from fermentation and roasting, not from the raw cacao bean itself. By processing oats and sunflower seeds in a similar way to cacao, Choviva achieves a chocolatey aroma and flavor profile without any cacao.”
Planet A Foods relies on regional raw materials, significantly shortening supply routes. The startup also ensures that less rainforest needs to be cleared for cacao cultivation. In this way, the startup wants to build an alternative supply chain that reduces dependence on cacao from tropical regions. According to the company’s specifications, the production of Choviva consumes up to 94 percent less water and produces up to 90 percent less CO2 than conventional chocolate production.
The chocolate alternative is produced in two variants: one uses milk powder, while the vegan version uses oat flour instead. Peter Kölln uses the vegan Choviva for the new mueslis. Additionally, Choviva requires up to 30 percent less sugar. Further products with Planet A Foods’ cocoa-free chocolate alternative are already on the way, according to the startup.
