“This investment is another demonstration of Cargill’s commitment to providing our customers with a broader and more bespoke service to meet their individual needs,” said Jos de Loor, Managing Director, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate. “This new world-class facility, along with our existing network and our food ingredient expertise, will support our cocoa and chocolate growth strategy.”
The upgrade is in response to growing customer demand for high quality cocoa powders that are made to individual customer specifications. The Wormer facility processes cocoa liquor into cocoa butter and powder, offering customers globally more than 100 types of cocoa powder under the Gerkens brand.
The new Center of Expertise brings together all of Cargill’s cocoa quality, technology, and innovation expertise. The combination of its team of experts and its new facilities mean Cargill is able to work more closely with customers to develop new products containing cocoa ingredients, as well as partner on product development and formulation, while ensuring high standards of quality and food safety. The Center includes an ISO 17025 accredited quality control laboratory, a pilot plant for product and process development, as well as an expanded expert taste panel to support sensorial evaluation for cocoa liquor and powder products. The investment has also enabled Cargill to open a new, fully automated cocoa powder warehouse and distribution center in the port of Amsterdam with high food quality and safety standards.
