Mondelēz promotes its cocoa chief to CPO as the cocoa market swings from shortage to surplus
Zakaria Dahkoun, who ran the snack maker's cocoa business, became chief procurement officer on Aug. 1. His predecessor left for chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut. The company says cocoa supply is now more than sufficient.
Article summary
- Why it matters: Food and consumer goods companies are putting commodity specialists in the top procurement seat. Mondelēz’s choice of its cocoa chief, as the market for its most volatile input turns, shows how closely procurement leadership is tied to commodity strategy. For suppliers and peers, it also signals how the company may approach cocoa contracting as prices ease.
- Aug. 1
- Dahkoun's start date as CPO
- 13+ years
- at Mondelēz
- 21+ years
- in procurement
- 4 years
- predecessor Thomas Gaengler's tenure as CPO
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The details
Mondelēz, maker of Oreo and Chips Ahoy, promoted Zakaria Dahkoun to chief procurement officer effective Aug. 1. He most recently served as senior vice president of the cocoa enterprise and earlier as SVP of global direct materials sourcing. He has more than 13 years at Mondelēz and more than 21 years in procurement. “His experience covers end-to-end procurement across diverse categories and geographies,” spokesperson Desiree Battaglia said.
He succeeds Thomas Gaengler, CPO for four years, who left to become chief operating officer at chocolate maker Barry Callebaut, a major cocoa supplier.
The cocoa backdrop. Years of volatile cocoa prices pushed Mondelēz to shift some of its product mix toward items less reliant on chocolate. Now, after producers expanded output, the market is oversupplied, according to Supply Chain Dive. “I think cocoa in terms of supply and demand for the years to come is in a much different situation and a much better one,” chief operating officer Luca Zaramella said at a Barclays investor conference in September, adding that recent production “is more than sufficient to cover the deficit.” He also said Mondelēz plans a major Oreo overhaul in 2027 with new formulas.
Why the predecessor’s move matters. Thomas Gaengler’s move from Mondelēz CPO to chief operating officer at Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s largest cocoa and chocolate suppliers, is a reminder that procurement leaders often cross to the supplier side. For companies that buy from Barry Callebaut, it means the supplier’s operations are now led by someone who knows a major customer’s procurement strategy from the inside.
What the cocoa shift means for the role. Dahkoun takes over as the company’s most volatile input moves from shortage to surplus. Mondelēz shifted some of its product mix away from chocolate-heavy products when prices spiked; with supply recovering, the procurement question becomes how quickly to rebalance, and how to contract for cocoa so the company benefits from lower prices without locking in exposure if the market tightens again.
What Mondelēz has said about cocoa supply. Zaramella told the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference that the market is now oversupplied because suppliers expanded production after years of volatility, and that production over the past couple of years has more than covered the deficit that drained stocks earlier, according to Supply Chain Dive. He described the 2027 Oreo overhaul as including “new formulas that will result in better labels.” Supply Chain Dive reported in July that Mondelēz had shown uneven progress on its 2025 sustainable sourcing goals, another part of the cocoa portfolio Dahkoun inherits.
Other procurement leadership moves in September
| Company | Appointment | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Electrolux Group | Daniele Rossi, head of procurement | Former CPO of Italian steelmaker Acciaierie d’Italia; 30+ years in procurement and supply chain |
| Veho | Ronak Patel, SVP of supply chain | Nearly nine years at Amazon, including leading a fleet of about 99,000 vehicles |
| Ocean Spray | Brad Hartzell, chief supply chain officer | Appointed as the cranberry harvest began |
| Spark Minda | Geetika Mishra, CPO | 18+ years at Motherson Group |
Contracting for a commodity as it turns
When a commodity moves from shortage to surplus, the contract structure matters as much as the price. The common options, and when each fits:
| Structure | How it works | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed price | Price set for the term | Rarely in a falling market; locks in today’s level |
| Index-linked | Price moves with a published benchmark | When you want to follow the market down |
| Collar | Index-linked between a floor and a ceiling | When you want some protection if prices rebound |
| Layered coverage | Buy portions forward at different times | When you want to average into a falling market |
This is general commodity-buying practice. Most food manufacturers combine several, and larger buyers hedge through futures, which needs treasury involvement and controls.
When a former customer’s CPO joins your supplier
Moves like Gaengler’s are common in food and ingredients. For the company left behind, the practical steps are to refresh the relationship map with the supplier, confirm confidentiality obligations on both sides, and treat the next negotiation as a fresh one: the supplier now has insight into how you buy. For the supplier, the move can make relationships smoother, because its operations leader understands customer requirements well.
What it means for procurement teams
- Commodity cycles shape leadership. When an input dominates cost, companies promote the people who manage it.
- Easing markets shift negotiation. If you buy cocoa or cocoa-based ingredients, falling prices are the time to revisit fixed-price terms set at the peak and to build index links into new contracts.
- Supplier relationships move with people. A former CPO now running operations at a key supplier can change how that relationship works. Keep relationship maps current.
What to watch next
- Cocoa contract renewals for 2027 as suppliers and manufacturers reset prices.
- Mondelēz’s 2027 product reformulation, which may change ingredient demand.
- More CPO appointments from commodity roles across food and consumer goods.
The bigger picture
The cocoa cycle shows how quickly a shortage can become a surplus once prices pull in new supply. Procurement teams that locked in long fixed prices at the peak now carry above-market costs; those that used index-linked or shorter terms can capture the decline.
Questions procurement teams are asking
Who is Mondelēz's chief procurement officer?
Zakaria Dahkoun became chief procurement officer on Aug. 1, 2026. He previously led the company's cocoa business and global direct materials sourcing.
Is the cocoa shortage over?
Mondelēz's chief operating officer said in September 2026 that cocoa supply is in a much better position and that recent production is more than sufficient to cover the earlier deficit. Supply Chain Dive described the market as oversupplied.
How should procurement teams contract for cocoa as prices ease?
Avoid long fixed prices set at the peak. Index-linked terms, collars with a floor and ceiling, or layered forward coverage let buyers capture lower prices while keeping some protection if the market tightens again.
Who is Mondelēz's chief procurement officer?
Zakaria Dahkoun became CPO effective Aug. 1, 2026. He previously led Mondelēz's cocoa enterprise and global direct materials sourcing, and succeeded Thomas Gaengler, who left to become COO of Barry Callebaut.
How we reported this
This story draws on 2 sources, listed below, and reflects figures as reported on September 21, 2026. The sections on why it matters and what procurement teams should do are Procurement Signal analysis. It is not legal or financial advice. See our editorial standards.
