Foreverland, the Italian food ingredients company innovating next-generation chocolate alternatives, has opened its first production facility in Puglia, Southern Italy.
The facility will produce over 500 tonnes of Choruba, the company’s flagship ingredient, per year. Choruba has applications across a wide range of products and is designed to help food manufacturers navigate the current cocoa market challenges and achieve sustainability commitments.
The facility marks a significant step in Foreverland’s growth strategy. It provides the company with the capability to run industrial trials with larger clients, secure small and medium-sized business customers, and deliver a steady, scalable supply of cocoa-free chocolate alternatives.
A dedicated pilot fermentation room sits alongside the facility, enabling the team to test and refine processing steps flexibly, while protecting know-how and validating unit economics.
Alongside unveiling the new plant, Foreverland has also announced a new partnership in food retail, the company’s fourth to date.
Teaming up with Italian protein innovators Small Giants, the duo launched Choruba Protein Bites – peanut butter and chocolate flavoured snacks, produced using Small Giants’ yeast-based protein and coated with Foreverland’s cocoa-free chocolate alternative, Choruba. The vegan, high-protein, sustainable snacks are available to purchase online and in-store across the Gulliver supermarket chain.
“The launch of our Puglia facility marks the moment Foreverland moves from pilot projects to full-scale production,” said Massimo Sabatini, co-founder and 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. Our partnership with Small Giants is a strong example of this next phase, showing how sustainable chocolate alternatives are ready for the mainstream.”
Edoardo Imparato, CEO of Small Giants, said: “Retailers and consumers are looking for real alternatives in categories like chocolate, where sustainability challenges are growing.
“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.”
Looking ahead, Foreverland is in discussions to expand into France and the Nordics, building on its presence in Italy and Germany.