Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has expanded its cocoa processing capacity by opening a processing unit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

       Located at Barry Callebaut’s Zone 4C Société Africaine de Cacao (SACO) plant, the grinding unit is part of a CHF55m ($55.2m) investment plan.

       The facility is expected to increase SACO’s cocoa bean processing capacity by more than 40% by 2022.

       once fully operational, Barry Callebaut intends to employ an additional workforce of 45 people at the site, as well as create 120 indirect jobs.

       Barry Callebaut Group CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique said: “This significant investment in our Cocoa processing capacities in C?te d’Ivoire is one more sign of our long-term commitment to the country and to the African continent.

       “Not only as a supplier of high-quality cocoa beans, but also as an industrial base and as an emerging market for cocoa and chocolate consumption, as is also exemplified by last year’s opening of our first Chocolate Academy Center on the African continent in Johannesburg, South Africa.”

       The expansion is said to be in line with the Ivorian Government’s objective to increase the local cocoa processing capacity, as well as in line with Barry Callebaut’s aim to meet the growing demand for cocoa in West Africa with domestic supply.

       Barry Callebaut is said to have been actively investing in the Western Africa cocoa processing segment through its C?te d’Ivoire subsidiary SACO, which was established 1964.

       Currently, Barry Callebaut has cocoa grinding factories in Abidjan and San Pedro that produce cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and powder for overseas and regional customers.