Lindt Invests in Cocoa Processing Plant

Swiss chocolate maker Lindt is planning to invest $30m in a cocoa processing plant, the company has announced.

The new plant, in a 350,000ft² complex, will transform beans into chocolate, the Kilchberg-based company said.

The cocoa plant in Stratham will clean, roast and grind the beans to create cocoa liquor, which forms part of the chocolate production process.

The plant has been designed to process 110,000lb of cocoa beans a day, enabling the factory to produce 7,200 Lindor truffles and 450 chocolate bars a minute.

Lindt, which also owns Ghirardelli Chocolate in San Leandro, California, reported sales of $600m in North America in 2009.