06 Jul 2026 Döhler accelerates cocoa-free alt choc innovation 

The flavour and ingredients giant, Döhler, has acquired Nukoko, a UK tech company specialising in cocoa-free chocolate….

The acquisition expands Döhler’s capabilities in cocoa-free chocolate alternatives – and gives it a strong platform to address cocoa supply volatility, cost pressure and the growing demand for sustainable ingredient solutions.  

Complementing Döhler’s broad portfolio of plant-based ingredients, Nukoko’s fava bean-based platform combines advanced biotech with traditional cocoa processing and craft techniques to create superior chocolate alternative ingredients without relying on cocoa as the core raw material.  

The fava bean is a resilient crop that can be cultivated in Europe and benefits from a secure global supply, it offers a strong foundation for scalable, next-generation chocolate alternative solutions.  

Creating value for customers

Customers will benefit from the combination of Nukoko’s technology and Döhler’s extensive flavour and ingredients expertise.

From August 2026, sample availability is planned for a wide range of applications, including:  

• Chocolate alternatives and confectionery: Supporting cocoa-free concepts with strong taste and sensory performance.  

• Bakery and cereals: Enabling chocolate-style taste profiles and inclusions in baked goods and cereal-based breakfast and snacks.  

• Ice cream, coatings and fillings: Creating opportunities for indulgent applications where taste, texture and processing performance are critical. 

The integration reflects Döhler’s entrepreneurial approach to innovation and value creation.

“By bringing Nukoko into the Döhler Group, we are addressing one of the category’s biggest challenges: delivering great-tasting, scalable cocoa-free alternatives that help reduce exposure to volatile cocoa markets,” comments Kerstin Bergander-Kleinert, Head of BU CNP at Döhler.

“Supported by Döhler’s global ingredient, R&D and application expertise, we can help customers create resilient, future-oriented product concepts without compromising sensory experience.”  

Say Nukoko founders Kit Tomlinson and Ross Newton: “Our technology now has the platform to be delivered at scale around the world. It is incredibly exciting to join the Döhler team and to jointly create unique solutions that do not currently exist on the market.”  

Source: Döhler, read more here!

About Nukoko: This UK tech company is on a mission to make the chocolate industry significantly more sustainable and healthier for both people and the planet.

Founded in 2022 by Kit Tomlinson, Ross Newton and recognised plant biologist Professor David Salt, Nukoko has created the world’s first ‘bean-to-bar’ chocolate alternative made from fava beans instead of cocoa, using its patent-pending technology platform.

The company’s chocolate alternative delivers a robust and secure supply chain with fewer CO2 emissions, zero deforestation, along with the potential to use less sugar in formulation Nukoko is nutrient dense – with no compromise on taste.  

In October 2024, Nukoko announced a strategic partnership with Döhler to scale production to an industrial level. The partnership marked a pivotal step in its journey from pilot-scale operations to full commercial supply, targeting the EU and UK market as a B2B ingredients supplier.