Barry Callebaut acquires Ghanaian-licensed cocoa purchaser Nyonkopa

Barry Callebaut, a leading Switzerland-based chocolate maker, has announced the acquisition of a Ghanaian licensed cocoa purchaser Nyonkopa, in a bid to secure supply of cocoa.

Details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Nyonkopa buys cocoa from more than 10,000 farmers in 34 districts of Ghana, reported Reuters

Licenced by the Ghanaian authorities, the acquisition of Nyonkopa is expected to help Barry Callebaut purchase cocoa right from farmers without depending on suppliers.

Barry Callebaut CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique was quoted by The Financial Times as saying: "Nyonkopa will give us access to thousands of Ghanaian farmers at farm level and enable us to source directly from them and provide them with farm services."

The Swiss firm expects Nyonkopa to be its main agent in taking up support programmes for farmers in Ghana.

The acquisition move comes as the cocoa processing industry is increasingly concerned about the supplies of cocoa in the future.

Around 70% of cocoa comes from West Africa, primarily from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, reported the Financial Times.

These regions have been facing challenges in the form of weather, political and financial instability.

During the last few years, chocolate firms have been making more of an effort to provide economic benefits so that supplies of cocoa stay secure.

Olam, which is noted for building sustainable network with farmers, is completing the $1.2bn acquisition of ADM’s cocoa division and this integration is only going to spell further trouble for chocolate makers who do not depend on developing sustainable cocoa supplies.

This week, Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate unit and Mondelez International have introduced a two-and-a-half-year programme to bolster the livelihood of cocoa farmers with smallholdings, as well as to encourage sustainable agricultural practices in Indonesia.

The companies expect that the programme will benefit 6,000 farmers and their families in the Kolaka and Kolaka Timur districts of southeast Sulawesi, reported Foodingredientsfirst.com.

---

Image: Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has acquired Nyonkopa to secure supply of cocoa. Photo: courtesy of BarryCallebaut.