Nutricandies Ltda. is an award-winning Brazilian food tech company pioneering sustainable and functional confectionery products made from cocoa by-products. Headquartered in Goianira, Goiás, Brazil, Nutricandies specializes in the development of zero-sugar, fat-free, and gluten-free chocolate-style candies and spreads derived from cocoa honey—a naturally sweet liquid extracted from the cocoa fruit’s mucilage. The company merges innovation, circular economy principles, and health-oriented formulations to offer clean-label, nutritious alternatives in the candy and nutricosmetic markets.
Company Background
Founded in Brazil’s agricultural heartland, Nutricandies emerged from research focused on waste valorization in the cocoa supply chain. By utilizing cocoa honey (also known as cocoa mucilage), an underused by-product of chocolate production, the company has created a proprietary process to convert this natural sweetener into chocolate-style spreads and candies that meet modern consumer expectations for sustainability, taste, and wellness.
Nutricandies operates within the "food-tech meets sustainability" niche and has gained significant recognition through its innovation, winning awards and being selected by major incubators in Brazil's agrifood innovation ecosystem.
Core Business
Nutricandies focuses on the production and commercialization of sustainable chocolate-style confectionery using clean-label ingredients. Its core competencies lie in:
- Upcycling cocoa by-products into functional food
- Natural sweetness without added sugar
- Nutricosmetic and nutraceutical product applications
- Ingredient innovation aligned with global health trends
Product & Service Offerings
Functional Confectionery Products
- Chocolate-Style Spreads and Candies
- Made from cocoa honey (cocoa mucilage)
- No added sugars
- Free from gluten and animal fats
- Naturally sweet and rich in antioxidants
- Low glycemic index and calorie content
Sustainable Ingredient Platform
- Use of 100% cocoa-derived inputs
- Valorization of waste from the cocoa industry
- Free from artificial sweeteners, colorants, or preservatives
Potential Applications
- Functional Snacks
- Nutricosmetics
- Nutraceutical Chocolates
- Private Label Confectionery
Specialization and Unique Strengths
- First-in-market chocolate-style candy made with cocoa honey
- Triple-free formulation: Sugar-free, fat-free, and gluten-free
- Clean-label ingredients suitable for vegan and diabetic diets
- Circular Economy Model: Uses waste from cocoa fruit pulp
- R&D-driven formulation developed in partnership with agri-food scientists
Financial and Operational Insights
As a privately held food-tech startup, Nutricandies does not publicly disclose financials, but indicators from accelerator programs and partnerships suggest:
- Annual Production Capacity: Small-batch, scalable pilot production
- Funding: Supported by Brazilian innovation hubs, including SEBRAE, and regional agritech grants
- Target Retail Price: Positioned in the premium healthy confectionery segment
Export and Market Reach
- Currently focused on Brazilian domestic market with pilot exports planned
- Strategic interest in:
- European clean-label snack markets
- U.S. health food retailers
- Asian nutraceutical ingredient buyers
- Preparation for compliance with international food safety standards (e.g., FDA, EFSA)
Target Market
- Health-conscious consumers
- Diabetics and keto-friendly buyers
- Functional snack brands
- Private label retailers in natural/organic segment
- Beauty-from-within and nutricosmetic product developers
Capabilities
- In-house R&D and Formulation Lab
- Small-batch production line
- Partnerships with cocoa producers for supply chain integration
- Packaging suited for retail and e-commerce
- Marketing aligned with eco-conscious and wellness-driven branding
Certifications and Compliance
- Pending certifications for broader market distribution
- Compliance with Brazilian ANVISA standards
- Products formulated to meet gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan criteria
- Actively pursuing organic and clean-label certifications
Customer Testimonials
"I never thought a chocolate spread could be this good without sugar. Nutricandies is changing the way we look at healthy sweets."
— Nutritionist, São Paulo
"As a diabetic, I’ve always had to avoid chocolate. These are the first sweets I can enjoy guilt-free—and they taste amazing!"
— Consumer Feedback, Rio de Janeiro Health Expo
Achievements
- Selected as one of the Top FoodTech Startups in Brazil’s SEBRAE innovation program
- Won Best Sustainable Food Innovation at regional agrifood awards
- Featured in Brazil’s top natural and organic product exhibitions
- Developed proprietary cocoa mucilage processing technique for confectionery use
- Collaborated with regional cocoa cooperatives to build sustainable sourcing