Döhler Buys the Fava Bean Startup Reinventing Chocolate

Two years after making an initial investment, Döhler Group has moved to fully acquire Nukoko, the British startup turning fava beans into cocoa-free chocolate. The deal signals that ingredient multinationals are no longer just watching alternative chocolate develop from the sidelines.

TLDR

• Döhler acquired UK startup Nukoko after a prior investment two years ago.
• Nukoko produces cocoa-free chocolate using fava beans as the base ingredient.
• The acquisition positions Döhler to scale alternative chocolate for manufacturers.
• Cocoa price volatility is accelerating industry interest in non-cocoa solutions.
• Fava bean sourcing offers a more transparent, regional supply chain option.

German manufacturing specialist Döhler Group has completed its acquisition of Nukoko, a UK food-tech startup producing cocoa-free chocolate from fava beans. The move, reported by Green Queen, follows an initial Döhler investment in Nukoko made roughly two years ago.

Cocoa-Free Chocolate Fava Bean Tech Finds a Global Platform

Nukoko reframes “bean to bar” entirely. Instead of cacao, it processes fava beans into a chocolate analog that mimics conventional chocolate’s taste and texture. Fava beans are widely grown in Europe, offering a shorter, more auditable supply chain than West African cocoa.

Timing matters here. Cocoa commodity prices have surged dramatically over the past 18 months. Manufacturers sourcing conventional cocoa face both cost pressure and supply uncertainty. Cocoa-free chocolate fava bean alternatives suddenly look less like novelty and more like risk management.

What Full Acquisition Means for Ingredient Suppliers

Döhler’s escalation from investor to owner is significant. The company supplies ingredients and integrated solutions to food and beverage manufacturers globally. Bringing Nukoko in-house means Döhler can embed fava bean chocolate directly into its formulation and product-development services.

For operators, that pathway shortens considerably. Rather than sourcing from an early-stage startup, manufacturers can access cocoa-free chocolate fava bean ingredients through an established B2B infrastructure. Scale, regulatory support, and application development come bundled.

Nukoko’s approach also aligns with clean-label demand. Fava beans are a recognizable, whole-food ingredient. Consumers and retailers pushing for shorter ingredient lists have clear reason to prefer it over synthetic cocoa extenders. That commercial logic strengthens Döhler’s case for moving fast.

Source: Green Queen. https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/dohler-group-nukoko-cocoa-free-chocolate-fava-bean-acquisition/