Cargill Expands Its Speciality Cocoa Liquor Capabilities With €10 Million Investment

20 Mar 2014 --- Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business has made a significant investment to expand its specialty cocoa liquors capabilities in its plants in France and Germany.

Commenting on the investment, Philippe Huet, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate’s Managing Director Cocoa said: “This major investment in our cocoa liquor capabilities will enable us to meet growing customer demand for premium and organic chocolate products. These liquors are used in our wide range of chocolate recipes and in our organic certified cocoa butter and powders.”

Huet told FoodIngredientsFirst: “There is a growing demand for premium products, with food manufacturers looking to add value in response to this consumer demand – and single origin chocolate, for example, provides this. It has a distinct taste personality, creating a connoisseur-like experience for the consumer. Companies offering chocolate demonstrating provenance of ingredients and specific knowledge of niche markets have an advantage in winning consumer confidence.”

The investment in Rouen, France, focuses on enhancing and expanding the Fine Flavor range of cocoa liquors.  A production line has been dedicated to the high quality manufacturing of small batch specialty liquors with subtle signature tastes. The beans used for these liquors are from specific origin countries with distinctive characteristics such as Venezuelan beans, of a mild and creamy taste, or those from Ecuador, with a flowery aroma. The dedicated Fine Flavor range production line carefully preserves the delicate flavours specific to each origin country and guarantees the purity of certified organic products.

Huet added: “Our special origin liquors, for example the Fine Flavor range and Dominican Republic organic liquor are experiencing growing demand. Alongside this, roasted/petzomized varieties tailored to specialist taste profiles, and the specific needs of our customers, are also popular as they enable them to differentiate their product offering. The investments we have made in our plants in France and Germany are focused on our capabilities in these special taste profiles.”

The plant in Berlin, Germany also plays an important role in the production of specialty liquors for the chocolate market and the investment significantly increases its capacity in response to additional demand for quality liquor.

Huet concludes: “Our customers expect us to keep innovating and adding value to their products, and these investments are focused on delivering for their success.”

by Robin Wyers