History of ECA

The European Cocoa Association (ECA) was launched in April 2000 in response to continuing European political and economic integration and consolidation in the cocoa industry.

ECA is a trade association representing the European cocoa sector and regrouping companies from the entire cocoa industry chain. Members are involved in the cocoa bean trade and processing, in warehousing and in related logistical activities. Some Members grind and process cocoa beans into cocoa liquor - out of which cocoa powder and cocoa butter are produced, as a next step - and some also produce industrial chocolate and/or compounds.

Together, ECA Members represent two-thirds of Europe’s cocoa beans grinding, 50 % of Europe’s industrial chocolate production and 40 % of the world production of cocoa liquor, butter and powder.

ECA also serves as a senior management-level discussion forum for the broad spectrum of companies directly or indirectly related to the cocoa chain.

ECA is intent on maintaining a close rapport with the upstream and downstream participants in the complex cocoa supply-chain, from the origin countries to the retailers, primarily through their respective trade associations. ECA's principal role is not to promote cocoa or its usage, and nor is it involved in any cocoa buying, selling or trading, which are its Members' activity. It serves the general public in an ancillary capacity, providing general information on cocoa (history, usage, etc.) and helps direct additional questions to the appropriate sources of information.

The association’s Secretariat is based in Brussels.