Ferrero returns to engage with 2026 World Confectionery Conference edition
Sustainability remains an integral part of our World Confectionery Conference as it moves to London next year, with topic specialist Francesco Tramontin, of Ferrero, set to re-engage with the event on major issues facing our industry, writes Neill Barston.
He will be joining our key industry gathering on 10 September 2026, sharing his insights with deep knowledge of critical topics of EUDR deforestation measures and corporate due diligence governing companies’ approach to transparency. (Watch our exclusive video interview with Francesco below)
Having taken on his role with Ferrero as vice president of public and institutional affairs several years ago, he has a wealth of confectionery sector experience over the past couple of decades.
As our broader sector comes under renewed pressures from challenges in supply chains, and higher operating costs with tariffs and energy price spikes, the introduction of additional sustainability legislation has, as reported, faced setbacks in its delivery.
This is the case with both EUDR policy for Europe, which is not likely to now come into force until the end of 2026, as well as related corporate due diligence laws.
Together, these are hugely significant in terms of the ethical and transparency frameworks that set the performance bar for small and larger businesses alike.
These subject areas have received major coverage across sectors, including the confectionery and snacks sectors, as they govern full supply chains of core ingredients including cocoa, palm oil and soy, and are of core environmental concern.
While Francesco Tramontin noted there had been some level of disappointment that an additional delay until 2026, which comes on top of a twelve-month extension that had been agreed until the end of this year, he remained optimistic about the future for these core industry policies.
Conference success
Reflecting on this year’s World Confectionery Conference, he believed the Brussels edition had shone a light on these core matters and offered a valuable chance to reconnect with colleagues and friends.
He said: “I really enjoyed the diversity of conversations and the different levels at which the conference operates, from the very big pictures and trends, to deep-diving into more technical aspects, and everything in between.
“So, I think it was particularly successful, and it showed both the simplicity and complexity of our sector – it’s easy to get our products are easy to get and our products speak for themselves, but the environment in which they operate is always complex, and these days there’s a lot of uncertainty.”
On the unexpected additional year’s delay that looks set to be agreed by the European Parliament, this meaning SME companies (which only have a comparatively light commitment for administering the new laws), will now engage with it mid 2027, following political pushback from centre-right EU groups and some segments of industry.
Despite this, Francesco believed it would ultimately prove valuable when finally entering into force.
He added: “There’s some disappointment about a further delay. You have heard us and other companies, and other NGO’s that we are working with express doubts what was proposed was really not a simplification, rather a way of weakening the rules to the benefit of some players that are lagging behind in implementation.
“So, it comes with that disappointment, but there is a certainty that we are in good company, and that it will go ahead and we’re working towards implementation as the right way of doing business as regards the EUDR, with its legal frameworks being beneficial. So, work on this continues, with some uncertainty, but we will try to bring some knowledge into the system as regards another early revision of this in April of 2026.”
- Registration for the 2026 World Confectionery Conference is now open, with early bird rates for visiting, speaking and exhibiting all available. Visit confectioneryconference.com to register for our event in London on 10 September.