Episode Details

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2026 in Vienna, Chris Walton is joined by Darren O'Brien, Chief Corporate and Government Affairs Officer and Chief Cocoa Officer at Mondelēz International, to discuss the global cocoa crisis and what it will take to build a more resilient cocoa supply chain for the future.

Darren shares how Mondelēz responded to unprecedented disruptions in cocoa production, why the company created the role of Chief Cocoa Officer, and how diversification, technology, and industry collaboration are reshaping the future of cocoa sourcing. He also discusses the importance of human rights initiatives, the role of collective action in addressing systemic supply chain challenges, and the leadership lessons that come from managing issues that span geographies, governments, and global markets.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why Mondelēz created the role of Chief Cocoa Officer

• Understanding the global cocoa crisis and its impact on the industry

• The risks of relying too heavily on a single sourcing region

• Diversifying cocoa sourcing beyond West Africa

• How flavor profiles influence cocoa sourcing strategies

• Investments in large-scale cocoa farming and agricultural innovation

• Emerging technologies that could transform cocoa production

• The future of cocoa butter and cell-based cocoa innovation

• Mondelēz's progress in building a more resilient cocoa supply chain

• How Cocoa Life supports farming communities and supply chain sustainability

• Addressing child labor through education, remediation, and farmer support programs

• The connection between farm productivity, farmer income, and human rights outcomes

• Why collaboration is essential to improving cocoa-growing communities

• Leadership lessons from managing global issues and board-level responsibilities

• How AI is helping leaders make faster and better-informed decisions

• The importance of managing through teams in a global organization

• Why pre-competitive collaboration may be the key to the future of cocoa

• The role of Together Cocoa and industry-wide technology sharing

• Building a more sustainable, resilient, and predictable cocoa ecosystem by 2035

Special thanks to the CGF Leadership Studio sponsored by Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail's coverage in Vienna.