I love chocolate, and I am not alone. The addressable market of chocoholics around the world has been growing by leaps and bounds. Since the beginning of the current century, global population increased by over 25%. At the same time, rising wealth in China, the world's most populous nation has caused shifts in dietary trends. Many Chinese have discovered the epicurean delights of a chocolate treat with has put pressure on the demand side of the fundamental equation for the primary ingredient in chocolate confectionery products which is the cocoa bean.
The vast majority of