Can Buharali, president of Caobisco, set to make keynote speaking return for Brussels

The World Confectionery Conference is set offer a welcome return for Can Buharali, president of Caobisco, the key European industry trade association, which has continued to represent the interests of companies of all sizes across the sector, reports Neill Barston.

He made a memorable appearance opening our 2024 event in Brussels, with the show set to return to the Belgian capital on 11 September at the Marriott Hotel, Grand Place, placing latest sustainability, new product and equipment innovation and supply chain developments under the spotlight once again.

Furthermore, the fifth edition of our conference will also feature our popular World Confectionery Awards, which will be returning across six core categories to celebrate the endeavours of companies from the full spectrum of our combined industries.

For his part, Can Buharali, who also serves as the senior director of global public affairs for Mondelez International, is keenly aware of tests facing the sector in terms of new EUDR and wider sustainability legislation impacting all segments of industry, which he will address among subject areas at our event in September. See our exclusive video review of last year’s conference featuring the Caobisco president below.

Can has previously served as regional director corporate and government affairs for the Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region in Singapore, and also held commercial roles with the business.

Today, he is now a year into his additional role leading Caobisco, which offers a major platform of support for more than 14,000 businesses across Europe, including representatives from major chocolate and cocoa brands, as well as a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises.

“I am thankful for being elected as president at Caobisco and for the trust that they have placed in me, as it’s a very valuable organisation in Brussels and for the confectionery industry within Europe. It’s at a point in time where there’s a lot to accomplish,” noted Turkish-born Can, who lives with his family in Belgium, who added that he has found his policy role especially rewarding in having the chance to drive positive change.

Editor Neill Barston commented: “It is a pleasure to welcome Can Buharali back to Brussels for our World Confectionery Conference as part of our line-up of keynote speakers and wider event programme, which is fast gaining momentum. This is a critical time for our industries, and it is such key bodies as Caobisco that continue to make a critical difference to supporting businesses in the sector, which are being tested with issues as wide ranging as higher ingredients and energy costs, supply chain uncertainties within the cocoa market, labour shortages and the emergence of advance technology including the dawn of AI, which is already leaving its mark on a number of sectors.

“Our conference will speak to many of these subjects, representing its related strands in an engaging and dynamic fashion, so we hope as many of you as possible can join us for what will be our fifth edition in the heart of Brussels.”

Early bird rates for entry and exhibiting remain open until the end of April, and you can register via the top tabs of our event website here.