Cargill is expanding the cocoa pressing capacity of its Ilhéus plant in Brazil by 25%, the company has announced.
The investment is designed to help the plant keep up with rising consumer demand for chocolate and cocoa products. The expansion project is already underway and expected to be concluded in early 2014.
Cargill is investing more than ten million Real (R$10 million) in pressing equipment and a technology platform to ensure higher production efficiency and reduce energy demand of its operations by up to 10%.
The Association of Cocoa Processors (AIPC) reported that in 2012 the industry experienced a 3% growth in the processing of cocoa beans.
"Cargill’s investment is aligned with the goal of supporting the growth of our customers, with initiatives ranging from encouraging Brazilian cocoa farming, to ensuring quality raw materials and implementing new processing technologies to promote on-going competitiveness," explained Miguel Sieh, director of Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business unit in Brazil