Brenntag and Cargill sign cocoa and chocolate distribution partnership for Central Eastern Europe

01 Oct 2018 --- Brenntag and Cargill have reached an agreement, making Brenntag the exclusive distribution partner for Cargill’s industrial cocoa and chocolate in the Central Eastern European (CEE) region. The distribution agreement includes Cargill’s leading Gerkens cocoa powder brand, as well as its broad chocolate range, which includes a variety of chocolate inclusions, coatings and fillings.

The collaboration with Cargill will expand Brenntag’s offering to the confectionery, bakery, cereals, desserts, dry mixes, ice cream and dairy industries across countries which include Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro and Ukraine.

Uwe Schueltke, COO Brenntag EMEA, explains: “Consumer choice is led by taste. Chocolate is a main taste component across the sweet application areas, also extending to savory. Brenntag CEE is a strong partner for taste and the addition of Cargill’s high-quality cocoa and chocolate range strengthens our position. Our taste specialists are looking forward to introducing the Cargill range to our customers.”

Inge Demeyere, Managing Director for Cargill’s chocolates and compound activities in Europe, adds: “Brenntag has a deep market understanding and a strong presence in the region. We have been impressed by Brenntag’s facilities and capabilities and how they manage complex supply chains whilst remaining close to the customer. We are excited about this collaboration because it allows two global market leaders to join forces to better serve food manufacturers in Central Eastern Europe.”

Brenntag’s commercial and technical teams work closely together with the food industry to choose the right ingredients for product optimization or new product development related to market trends. The Brenntag Food & Nutrition Application and Development centers work to develop customer specific formulations and will be pivotal in bringing the Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate innovations to the market.

Further details about Brenntag’s expansion strategy in this space are not being disclosed. 

Last week, Brenntag North America Inc. announced the grand opening of a new Food & Nutrition Application & Development Center in Allentown, PA. Through this center, further support will be provided to customers in the US and Canada who face food and nutrition formulation challenges with technical solutions and inventive ideas. The center will be fully equipped to handle new product development and ingredient application assistance in all areas within the food and nutrition industry. In the Food & Nutrition Application & Development Center, the Brenntag team will conduct ingredient qualification, food application testing, and prototype development focused on strategic products and applications. Food applications include baked goods, beverage, confectionery, formed meat, dairy and more.