Cargill to invest in German cocoa and chocolate plants

US agribusiness company Cargill has announced plans to invest €20m ($26.52) in its newly acquired cocoa and chocolate plants in Berlin as part of its strategy to maintain a leading position in Germany, the largest chocolate market in Europe.

The investment will be used to upgrade its two plants in Lichtenrade and Reinickendorf, which is expected to boost certain product lines and strengthen its ability to offer a superior quality cocoa and chocolate portfolio.

The company also plans to integrate its cocoa and chocolate operations in the country with its global network in Western Europe, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Brazil, Canada and the US, and to optimise product flows to customers.

Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate managing director Jos De Loor said: "This investment highlights the company’s ongoing commitment to help our customers address the increasing consumer demand for chocolate, particularly in Germany and Eastern Europe.

"By upgrading, expanding and integrating these two production sites into our wider cocoa and chocolate network, we are better placed to serve our customers and seamlessly provide them with the best quality product from the most appropriate site," De Loor added.

Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, which belongs to the company’s food ingredients business unit, offers a wide range of both standard and customised cocoa and chocolate ingredients for bakery, confectionery, and dairy applications. Its product range includes Gerkens-branded cocoa powders, chocolate, coatings, fillings, cocoa liquors and cocoa butters.

It has sourcing operations in major cocoa growing countries of the world and processing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Ghana, the Netherlands, UK and the US.

Caption: Cagrill will upgrade its two German facilities near Berlin to boost certain product lines and to offer a superior quality cocoa and chocolate portfolio. Image courtesy of Cargill