Planet A Foods scores double honors for cocoa-free chocolate breakthrough

Planet A Foods has secured two significant accolades in the space of a week, underscoring the rapid rise of the Munich-based food tech startup and its innovative cocoa-free chocolate alternative. The company was named a finalist in the prestigious German Founders’ Award 2025 and also took home the 'Rising Star' title at the Game Changer Award, adding to its growing recognition across Europe’s food industry.

Founded in 2021, Planet A Foods is tackling one of the food sector’s most pressing problems: the dwindling availability of cocoa due to environmental challenges and the fragility of global supply chains. Its flagship product, Choviva, is the world’s first commercial chocolate alternative made entirely without cocoa. Instead, it is crafted from sunflower seeds, offering a sustainable and scalable solution to the pressures facing traditional chocolate production.

“Both awards mean enormously to us. They demonstrate how urgently we need new, innovative ways to sustainably replace endangered ingredients like cocoa. Our cocoa-free chocolate alternative bridges the gap between rising demand and shrinking supply in the market,” commented Sara Marquart, Co-Founder & CTO of Planet A Foods.

The startup was named one of three finalists in the 'Rising Star' category of the German Founders’ Award 2025, widely considered one of Germany’s most important honors for entrepreneurial achievement. The award, judged by a panel including representatives from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the savings banks, ZDF, and Porsche, recognizes exceptional growth, innovative prowess, and economic significance. The winners will be announced at a ceremony scheduled for September 9, 2025, at the ZDF capital studio in Berlin. Notable previous winners include BioNTech, Flix, Enpal, and Personio, placing Planet A Foods in prominent company as it continues to scale its business.

Planet A Foods also earned the 'Rising Star' prize at the 2025 Game Changer Award, presented by Bain & Company in collaboration with Manager Magazin. The award celebrates businesses that are transforming industries and society through disruptive innovations. Alongside Planet A Foods, this year’s honorees included Trade Republic for Customer Experience, Trumpf for Product and Service Innovation, and the Nemetschek Group for Operations of the Future.

The attention the startup is attracting reflects growing concerns in the chocolate industry. Cocoa production faces mounting pressures from climate change, deforestation, and volatile markets, contributing to shrinking supplies and escalating prices. In response, brands and manufacturers are searching for alternatives that can replicate the taste and texture of traditional chocolate while reducing environmental impact and supply risks. Planet A Foods positions Choviva as a solution that can deliver on both fronts.

Choviva is already appearing in more than 60 products sold across nine countries, spanning categories such as cereals, confectionery, and baked goods. The company’s partners include well-known brands such as Riegelein, De Beukelaer, and Piasten (Treets). Encouraged by growing interest from manufacturers and consumers alike, Planet A Foods is planning further expansion, with market entries in the United States and Asia on the horizon.

While cocoa-free chocolate alternatives have been explored before, few have made it to market with the same commercial success or scale as Choviva. By leveraging sunflower seeds, Planet A Foods aims to sidestep the environmental and ethical issues associated with cocoa production, including deforestation and complex supply chains involving smallholder farmers in regions vulnerable to political and climatic instability.

Planet A Foods’ recent recognition adds momentum to a broader shift toward sustainable ingredients in the global food industry. Consumers and major brands are increasingly demanding transparency and environmental responsibility, pushing companies to explore innovative solutions that can meet both taste expectations and sustainability goals.

The startup’s progress has not gone unnoticed by investors and industry observers, who see potential in Choviva’s ability to secure a place in a market that remains deeply attached to the sensory experience of chocolate. Industry watchers will be keenly anticipating the outcome of the German Founders’ Award in September, as well as the company’s next moves in scaling its cocoa-free solution internationally.

For Planet A Foods, the twin honors signal growing validation of its mission to rethink traditional ingredients and offer alternatives that can keep pace with shifting global realities. As the company continues to gain traction, it stands poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping how chocolate – and potentially other beloved foods – are made in the future.