Jan 27 2012 --- The new Dutch Dark cocoa powders range is one of the results of a substantial investment by Cargill’s cocoa & chocolate business in its Wormer facility in the Netherlands – home of the renowned Gerkens cocoa powders.

The Dutch Dark range of powders uniquely combines an intense dark colour with a smooth chocolaty taste and is available in a variety of high and low fat versions. The range provides a real opportunity to innovate and develop new recipes in different applications.

An example of the range is high fat Gerkens Holland DS150 with a premium dark colour, which is particularly suited for use in luxurious desserts and ice cream.

The smooth taste of Dutch Dark powders also means there is no need to use sugar to mask the bitterness that can be associated with dark powders, which is a great benefit for those wishing to develop recipes with less sugar.

The investment to develop the company’s Wormer facility has been part of the Dutch Dark innovation story. “The investment includes the creation of new laboratory facilities, which will further strengthen our innovation capabilities,” explains Harold Poelma, Managing Director of Cocoa, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate.

These new laboratory facilities consist of a microbiological and technical lab dedicated to product and quality control, and an application lab to provide product development and recipe formulation expertise for customers.

Cargill’s expert taste panel has also been expanded to focus on cocoa liquor and powder, and is constantly looking to optimise products and processes and encourage innovation.

“The result of all these efforts will be a great new Centre of Expertise for cocoa,” said Poelma.

The launch of the Dutch Dark range comes alongside a large increase in butter and powder production capacity at the Wormer plant. Further development of Dutch Dark powders is planned, which will expand the availability of Cargill’s premium Gerkens powder range for customers.

“Our Dutch Dark powders, and the expanded facilities at our Wormer plant, are a vote of confidence for the future from Cargill’s cocoa & chocolate business. We are sure our Dutch Dark powder range will be welcomed by customers, along with our excellent new facilities and that, even more than in the past, we can be true partners with our customers in innovation and development,” concludes Poelma.