Cargill upgrades Dutch cocoa processing facility

Global agribusiness company Cargill has officially opened its cocoa processing facility in Wormer, the Netherlands, following an upgrade with an investment of $82m.

The company said the upgrade has been made in response to the increasing demand for customised cocoa powders, and will boost its capacity to provide better product innovation and service to customers.

Besides boosting cocoa powder production at the facility, the company has also opened a new Center of Expertise for cocoa as part of the investment.

Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate managing director Jos de Loor said the investment provides its customers with a broader and more bespoke service to meet their individual needs.

"Our new Center of Expertise will offer our customers even greater innovation and insight, while upgrades to our production and storage capacities will mean they will also benefit from higher quality and customer service," Loor added.

The Wormer facility processes cocoa liquor into cocoa butter and powder, offering customers across the world over 100 types of cocoa powder with a range of flavours and colours under the premium Gerkens brand.

The new Center of Expertise will bring together Cargill’s cocoa quality, technology and innovation expertise, which will help the company to work more closely with customers to develop new products containing cocoa ingredients, Cargill said.

The centre features a pilot plant for product and process development, an ISO 17025 accredited quality control laboratory, as well as an expanded panel of taste experts, who will conduct sensorial evaluation of cocoa liquor and powder products.

The company has also used the investment to open a new, fully automated cocoa powder warehouse and distribution centre in the port of Amsterdam for an efficient storage capacity.

 

Image: Official opening of Cargill cocoa facility extensions and Center of Expertise for cocoa by Cargill managing director cocoa Harold Poelma, the Mayor of Wormerland Peter Tange and Cargill operations director cocoa J Commandeur. Photo: Cargill