Why I’m So Excited About Nukoko — And What It Could Mean for PopCornaa

Over the past year, I’ve been keeping a closer eye on cocoa prices than I ever imagined I would. As the founder of PopCornaa, an award-winning gourmet popcorn brand, the cost of cocoa isn’t just a market number to me—it’s something that directly affects how we create our snacks, the ingredients we can use, and how we keep our promise of making sustainable, affordable treats.

And honestly? The numbers have been painful to look at. Global cocoa prices have skyrocketed, driven by climate change, crop disease, and political instability in the regions where most cocoa is grown. Cocoa has quickly become one of the most unpredictable commodities in the food industry, and for brands like ours, that volatility makes it harder to innovate while keeping costs stable.

Discovering Nukoko

That’s why I was so excited when I stumbled across Nukoko. It’s a pioneering cocoa-free chocolate alternative made from fava beans—yes, the same beans you’d expect in a soup or stew. Through a clever fermentation and roasting process, Nukoko transforms these beans into something that looks, smells, and tastes like chocolate, without using a single cocoa bean.

Fava beans bring so many advantages. They’re grown closer to home, they’re naturally good for the soil, and the production process has a far smaller carbon footprint than conventional cocoa. On top of that, this cocoa-free chocolate has less sugar, but more protein and fibre—making it a smarter choice for both people and the planet.

What This Could Mean for PopCornaa

For me, it’s not just about the science—it’s about the possibilities. Imagine being able to bring chocolate-inspired flavours into the PopCornaa range, but without the uncertainty of volatile cocoa prices. Imagine knowing we can protect our costs, so we don’t have to pass rising ingredient prices onto you, the consumer. And imagine enjoying indulgent snacks that are rooted in something ethical, sustainable, and forward-looking.

Of course, Nukoko is still in its early days. Production is scaling up, and it will take a little time before it’s ready for brands like PopCornaa to experiment with at scale. But when it is, you can bet we’ll be first in line to see how this innovation could fit into our flavour world.

For me, this feels like a glimpse of the future of snacking—where cocoa-free chocolate sits alongside traditional cocoa, giving brands like ours more creativity and resilience.

So here’s to what’s next. The next bag of PopCornaa gourmet popcorn you open may just carry the tale of the Nukoko cocoa-free revolution inside.