Cargill launches first chocolate manufacturing operation in Asia

Cargill has announced a partnership with a local manufacturer in western India to launch its first chocolate manufacturing operation in Asia. The facility is expected to begin operating mid-2021 and will initially produce 10,000 tons of chocolate compounds.

“Asia is a key growth market for Cargill. Opening a chocolate manufacturing operation in India allows us to increase our regional footprint and capabilities in Asia to better support the needs of our local Indian customers as well as multinational customers in the region,” said Francesca Kleemans, managing director, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate Asia-Pacific. “It also demonstrates our commitment to supporting the local economy with the addition of 100 new manufacturing jobs.”

Cargill established its cocoa presence in Asia in 1995 in Makassar, Indonesia, with a team designated to support trading and supply management of cocoa to Cargill processing plants in Europe and Brazil. In 2014, Cargill opened a cocoa processing plant in Gresik, Indonesia, to make premium Gerkens cocoa products. With the addition of the new manufacturing plant in India, Cargill is prepared to develop and scale up operational capabilities quickly to support future growth for its customers.