Weekly Roundup: Barry Callebaut to support next-gen cocoa farmers in Cameroon, Louis Dreyfus Company and Guangdong HAID ramp up Chinese aquafeed investments

24 May 2019 --- This week, Barry Callebaut and the government of Cameroon signed a letter of intent, to intensify the cooperation on sustainable cocoa farming – in particular, supporting the next generation of cocoa farmers. Caragum International has acquired a stake in Kemi Pine Rosins Portugal, S.A., a company specializing in pine resins. Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) and Guangdong HAID Group Co. Ltd. (HAID) announced the start of construction work on a new feed mill in Tianjin, China, to be built and operated by their joint venture, Tianjin Rongchuan Feed Co. Ltd. Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, specializing in vanilla extracts and flavor products, announced its first-ever integrated consumer education campaign dubbed “Better Your Bake,” featuring Food Network’s “Challenge” Champion and world-renowned cake designer Marina Sousa.

In-brief: Initiatives
Barry Callebaut, a leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products, and the government of Cameroon signed a letter of intent on May 23, to intensify the cooperation on sustainable cocoa farming – in particular, supporting the next generation of cocoa farmers. Towards this aim, Barry Callebaut and the Cameroon government are collaborating on the NEW GENERATION program, which facilitates training, inputs, financing and equipment acquisition on family farm plots. In addition, the focus will be on cocoa farmer income diversification programs, by promoting, next to cocoa farming, Barry Callebaut and the government of Cameroon intensify cooperation on sustainable cocoa farming – supporting the next generation of cocoa farmersthe cultivation of other agricultural products and the marketing of these products. The program aims for the establishment of Centres of Excellence for post-harvest treatment, as well as the systematization of good agriculture and post-harvest practices. “Without cocoa farmers, there is no chocolate. By combining the expertise and resources on the ground from the CICC and Barry Callebaut we want to accelerate the progress towards a sustainable cocoa farming sector, in order for cocoa farming to remain an attractive professional future for young Cameroonians,” says Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Barry Callebaut.

In-brief: Partnerships
Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) and Guangdong HAID Group Co. Ltd. (HAID) announced the start of construction work on a new feed mill in Tianjin, China, to be built and operated by their joint venture, Tianjin Rongchuan Feed Co. Ltd. “As demand for protein rises in a number of markets and consumer demand for healthy meat alternatives grows in China, aquaculture represents an efficient and sustainable source of protein and our move into aqua feeds is consistent with that vision,” says James Zhou, Head of North Asia Region at LDC. China is the world’s largest supplier and consumer of aqua feed. The partnership aims to develop the biggest aqua feed mill in North China and leverage the synergies from combining soy crushing and feed production activities in one location. Under the partnership agreement signed by the two companies in December 2018, the mill will produce high-end aquatic feeds, including prawn feeds, as well as fermented soybean meal. Situated on a 53,000m squared  plot of land and strategically located at the center of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic zone, the site is expected to open by mid-2020, with an annual feed production capacity of 300,000 metric tons. “This initiative is part of our strategy to diversify downstream into more value-added products, as we increasingly integrate along the value chain,” states Ian McIntosh, LDC’s Group CEO. “HAID is a key player in animal nutrition, and our complementary expertise is ideal to develop together in this arena.” 

In-brief: Acquisitions
Caragum International has acquired a stake in Kemi Pine Rosins Portugal, S.A., a company specializing in pine resins for non-food applications (cosmetics, road marking, adhesives, inks and varnishes). “This acquisition of equity will enable us to consolidate our supplies,” explains Jean-Claude Tur, CEO of Caragum International. “In addition, with the arrival of their new ultramodern plant next September, we will be able to provide better services, better quality product and better delivery times to our customers.”  In doing so, Caragum hopes to strengthen its leadership in the market of Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin (GEWR E445) and Glycerol Ester of Gum Rosin (GEGR-CG116) for flavored emulsions and beverages.

In-brief: Campaigns
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, specializing in high-quality fine vanilla extracts and flavor products, announced its first-ever integrated consumer education campaign dubbed “Better Your Bake.” The campaign features Food Network’s “Challenge” Champion and world-renowned cake designer Marina Sousa. She is partnering with the brand to create a video series designed to help home baking enthusiasts advance their skills and benefit from the mindfulness that comes with the art of baking. “I am thrilled to partner with Nielsen-Massey for the “Better Your Bake” campaign,” said Sousa. “Creating and baking beautiful cakes has always instilled in me a personal feeling of relaxation and accomplishment. As a novice, many years ago, I remember perfecting basic techniques like whisking and rolling out dough, which brought me a great sense of achievement and happiness. Through this campaign, I hope to share my knowledge with home bakers everywhere, so that they too can gain the benefits of ‘bettering their bake.’”