The Italian foodtech producing Choruba from Mediterranean carob, with four European confectionery partnerships, has secured €9.4M to expand commercially and develop an organic product line.
Foreverland, the Italian startup crafting a carob-based chocolate alternative, raised €6 million in a new funding round, totaling €9.4 million in capital.
The round saw continued support from seed backers Kost Capital and Maia Ventures, and new investors like CDP Venture Capital, Linfa, Riello Investimenti SGR’s agrifoodtech fund, and Newtree Impact.
Foreverland’s market strategy aligns with ongoing issues in the global cocoa market. Cocoa prices climbed over 300% between 2022-2024 due to climate-related crop failures in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which supply about two-thirds of the world’s cocoa.
Supply instability exerts pressure on confectionery manufacturers’ margins, creating a commercial space for scalable alternatives with stable pricing.
Foreverland’s Choruba, made from carob, pumpkin seeds, and Mediterranean chickpeas, uses 90% less water and emits 83% less CO₂ than conventional dark chocolate, based on its full life-cycle assessment.
Protected by two patents, Choruba closely mimics chocolate’s taste and functionality, requiring no equipment changes for confectionery production lines—a key adoption factor cited by Massimo Sabatini, co-founder and CEO.
Founded in 2023 by Sabatini, Riccardo Bottiroli, Giuseppe D’Alessandro, and Massimo Brochetta in Bari, the company quickly scaled. Its Puglia facility, opened in October 2025, produces 500 tonnes of Choruba annually.
With IFS Food certification, essential for European food manufacturers, Foreverland has four confectionery partnerships, with more expected. Its current markets are Italy and Germany, targeting France and the Nordic regions next.
“With IFS Food certification and rising demand, we’re expanding across Europe, strengthening partnerships, and hiring senior talent from the cocoa industry to support large-scale manufacturers,” Sabatini stated.
The funding will support hiring, European expansion, deeper partnerships with major players, and developing an organic cocoa-free line for a growing market segment.
The organic line is significant: combined with IFS Food certification, it addresses common procurement needs for confectionery manufacturers diversifying cocoa supply.
The investor profile reflects the round’s industrial focus. Linfa, backed by Riello Investimenti SGR’s AgriFoodTech fund launched in 2024 with €65 million, targets agri-food innovators excelling in process, product, or sustainability, aligning well with Foreverland.