Doubling the Delights of Belgian Chocolate
Manufacturers active in confectionery, biscuits, ice cream or cereals will benefit from increased supply of Belgian chocolate following the official inauguration of Cargill’s newly expanded world class chocolate facility in Mouscron, Belgium. The €35 million investment doubles production capacity for a product range including dark and milk liquid chocolate, drops and chunks and lactose-free dark chocolate.
The extension comprises additional production lines, storage tanks and warehouse space and is complemented by new social rooms for operators and office space. The new building has been designed with high-tech co-generation equipment aiming to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
“Our customers are turning to us to provide market insights, creative solutions, high quality products and reliable supply. With the extension of our facility, we are now able to open up to new and almost unlimited opportunities, enabling us to address the consumer trends of the future,” says Inge Demeyere, managing director of Cargill’s chocolate business Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA). “We are building on a strong heritage in cocoa and chocolate together with our customers. This is the result of a dedicated focus on innovation and a unique combination of our food ingredients portfolio.”
The chocolate facility in Mouscron opened in 2003 and some 150 people work on site. It serves customers worldwide and has developed a unique know-how for Belgian chocolate. Together with the other sites in Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business has a strong network and capabilities to serve a wide range of customers.
CAPTION:
Pictured at the opening of the new €35 million extension at the Mouscron chocolate plant are (from left to right): Cis Van Doninck, Cargill VP of Finance Food Ingredients & Systems and General Manager Belgium; Inge Demeyere, Managing Director of Cargill Chocolate EMEA & Asia; Rudy Demotte, Ministre-Président de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles; and Jos de Loor, President of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate.
