The cocoa processor and manufacturer of cocoa derivatives (cocoa butter, cocoa liquor and cocoa powders), which is based in Barcelona, Spain, made the announcement as part of an ambitious five-year expansion plan.
Increase production capacity
The board of directors and management at Nederland decided the company needed to develop the North American client base in 2016 as a key market to support further changes and expansion.
It hired Jordi Sanahuja, area sales manager, North America, Nederland Group, to lead the project as he had previous experience in the cocoa market and in the North American market.
“As part of our five-year expansion plan we want to increase production capacity in our factories in Spain and the Ivory Coast, carry out a plant modernization and automation, a new headquarters and even possibly further investment in production facilities in countries outside Europe,” said Ramon Rovira, GM, Nederland Group.
“Our plan is to increase our grinding capacity from 38,000 MT to 70,000 MT by 2023. We are working in different projects and partnerships in China, West Africa and South America.”
Family firm
Mario Snellenberg, commercial director, Nederland Group, added the company is still one of the few family owned cocoa processing organizations and it feels that the business philosophy that stems from this is an asset more potential customers are starting to appreciate.
“Next we are going to settle down and find our feet in North America, we want to do it properly to become a good, regular and reliable player, no hurry but no pauses, as we say,” said Snellenberg.
The Nederland Group is a 100% family owned business formed by Nederland S.A., Moner Cocoa S.A., Sidcao S.A. and Cacao Sampaka S.L., providing cocoa products for a variety of applications.