Foreverland opens large-scale Puglia plant to meet demand for sustainable chocolate alternatives

Foreverland, the Milan-based food-tech company developing next-generation cocoa-free chocolate ingredients, has opened its first full-scale production facility in Puglia, southern Italy, marking a major step in its move from pilot to commercial manufacturing.

The new site gives Foreverland the capacity to produce more than 500 tons per year of its flagship ingredient, Choruba, which is made from resilient Mediterranean crops such as carob, pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas. Designed to deliver the same flavor and mouthfeel as traditional chocolate, Choruba offers a significantly lower environmental footprint while helping food manufacturers navigate record cocoa price volatility, supply shortages, and growing climate pressures.

“The launch of our Puglia facility marks the moment Foreverland moves from pilot projects to full-scale production,” said Massimo Sabatini, Co-founder & CEO of Foreverland. “The new plant allows us to work hand in hand with manufacturers, speed up recipe development, and bring sustainable chocolate alternatives into everyday products across Europe – all while ensuring we can meet demand at accessible price points.”

The plant represents a cornerstone in Foreverland’s expansion strategy. It enables the company to conduct industrial trials with major food manufacturers, serve small and medium-sized businesses, and maintain a stable, scalable supply of cocoa-free chocolate ingredients. Alongside the main production line, a pilot fermentation room allows the team to test and refine process steps flexibly while protecting proprietary know-how and validating unit economics.

The opening also coincides with Foreverland’s latest retail partnership – its fourth to date – which sees the company team up with Italian protein brand Small Giants to launch Choruba Protein Bites. The peanut butter and chocolate-flavored snacks combine Small Giants’ yeast-based protein with Foreverland’s cocoa-free coating, offering consumers a vegan, high-protein, and sustainable option that aligns with shifting retail and consumer priorities.

Edoardo Imparato, CEO of Small Giants, said the collaboration reflects a growing appetite for responsible indulgence. “Retailers and consumers are looking for real alternatives in categories like chocolate, where sustainability challenges are growing,” he said. “Through our collaboration with Foreverland, we’re bringing products made with innovative ingredients to market shelves. They deliver on taste, nutrition, and responsibility. It’s a concrete step towards making sustainable indulgence the new normal in European supermarkets.”

Choruba Protein Bites are available online and in-store across Italy’s Gulliver supermarket chain, priced at €3.29 (US$3.56) for a three-pack or €1.99 (US$2.15) for a single bar.

Foreverland’s progress comes at a time when the global cocoa industry faces one of its most challenging periods in decades. Rising demand, aging plantations, and severe weather in major producing countries have driven cocoa prices to record highs, forcing manufacturers to explore alternatives that ensure supply security without compromising taste.

By leveraging locally available crops and upcycling side streams, Foreverland aims to create a more sustainable and resilient value chain for chocolate-like products. Its approach also opens opportunities for new collaborations across the food industry, from confectionery to snacks and bakery applications.

“The new plant is a major enabler for partnerships,” said Sabatini. “We can now deliver the consistency and volumes that larger customers need, while still supporting smaller innovators who want to experiment with cocoa-free products.”

The company has already established a presence in Italy and Germany and is in active discussions to expand into France and the Nordic markets, targeting both B2B ingredient supply and co-development partnerships.

As Foreverland scales up, it is also looking to strengthen collaborations with manufacturers seeking to reformulate products with lower environmental impact ingredients. Its Choruba line has attracted attention not only from food producers but also from supplement and cosmetics developers interested in cocoa alternatives with enhanced nutritional and functional benefits.

While Foreverland’s focus remains firmly on B2B partnerships, its retail collaborations – like the launch with Small Giants – provide an opportunity to demonstrate the versatility and consumer appeal of its cocoa-free chocolate technology.

“The momentum we’re seeing is proof that sustainable indulgence doesn’t have to be a niche concept,” said Sabatini. “It’s becoming a mainstream expectation.”

With its Puglia plant now operational and retail collaborations gaining visibility, Foreverland’s next phase centers on scaling supply and accelerating innovation across Europe’s fast-evolving chocolate and confectionery landscape.