As Asia’s demand for rich, flavorful and innovative indulgent food and beverages continues to grow, Cargill announced the launch of a new cocoa production line at its cocoa processing plant in Gresik, Indonesia.

Francesca Kleemans, managing director of Cargill’s Food Solutions Southeast Asia, revealed, “When it comes to bakery, chocolate confectionery and ice cream, as well as the indulgent café-style beverages in foodservice, cocoa and chocolate have always been one of the most popular ingredients. Cargill expects high growth in these indulgence categories in coming years, driven by consumer demand for multi-sensorial experiences, healthy indulgence, and conscious consumption.”

According to Cargill’s 2024 proprietary TrendTracker study, APAC consumers have a strong and growing appetite for novelty and experimentation, seeking foods with unique tastes, flavors, and textures. At the same time, consumers are also increasingly putting more focus on holistic health, and seeking products that reflect their personal values. Complementing an existing cocoa production line in the Gresik facility, the new line enables the production of specialty cocoa solutions with a higher degree of customization, allowing the plant to produce cocoa powders and cocoa liquors with unique flavor and sensory profiles for different consumers’ needs in Asia.

“I am delighted to unveil this investment by Cargill that resets the industry standards for cocoa & chocolate competitiveness and innovation, aiming to meet the needs of Asia’s most demanding customers and consumers. Through our new capabilities in Gresik, we are looking forward to co-creating with our customers in Asia. Leveraging the latest manufacturing technology and advanced R&D, the new line enables breakthrough innovation and unparalleled speed to market. At a time where global supply chains are experiencing tremendous challenges, near-shoring strategies are critical for our customers to maintain availability and competitiveness. This is where we are able to add value and support customers through our “Asia for Asia” solutions,” added Francesca.

To celebrate the commissioning of the new line and demonstrate its capabilities, Cargill has also launched two dark Gerkens cocoa powders range with deep dark color hues and premium flavor profiles, and a new range of Cargill Craft cocoa liquors that deliver a variety of flavors from fruity and fresh to roasted.

• Gerkens Max80 cocoa powder delivers dark brown color with a chocolatey flavor profile

• Gerkens Max78 cocoa powder delivers a deep brown color, strong cocoa notes with subtle roasted tones

• Cargill AFB10 cocoa liquor with tropical fruity flavor

• Cargill ASA00 cocoa liquor with bittersweet chocolate flavor

• Cargill ASM00 cocoa liquor, providing roasted flavor with a hint of fruit

In recent years, Cargill has been doubling down on its efforts to become a go-to partner for growth and innovation to food manufacturing, foodservice and retail customers. Harnessing its end-to-end supply chain expertise, Cargill is strengthening its capabilities to bring complete value-added solutions for bakery, ice cream and chocolate confectionery categories through investments in its Gresik facility which is an important hub for Cargill’s cocoa innovation and production in Asia. The company is now able to leverage the combined capabilities of the new production line and the Cargill Cocoa Development Centre which was also opened in Gresik last November.

As one of the industry’s most comprehensive food solutions providers, Cargill’s portfolio extends beyond cocoa & chocolate to also include specialty fats, sweeteners, and many others. Boosted by its state-of-the-art 16 production sites across the region and innovation facilities in Singapore, Malaysia, China, India and Indonesia, Cargill is solidifying its ability to offer comprehensive “Asia for Asia” solutions – from sourcing, market insights, production and innovation – to serve customers in Asia and beyond.