The Nutresa Group, the parent company of Compañía Nacional de Chocolates and B2B brand Chocolate Cordillera, said the new high-impact programme would continue strengthening the cocoa chain in Colombia with new commitments amounting to $1.5 billion investment over the next 10 years.
New initiatives include establishing a nursery in the south of the country for the production of 10 million cocoa trees in the next five years. In addition, the Group will invest 50% of the cost of maintaining the nursery over the next five years in alliance with the Colombian government.
It will also invest more in the training of good agricultural practices along with supporting cocoa farmers' associations and cooperatives.
"We want to strengthen associations in the field. We are committed to developing new markets and sharing additional premiums with associations," said Carlos Ignacio Gallego, president of Nutresa.
Good agricultural practices
Compañía Nacional de Chocolates also confirmed that it will develop fairtrade clients abroad, willing to pay price premiums for social and environmental conditions, and share profits with farmers' associations and cooperatives.
The Gilinski Group, the majority shareholder in Grupo Nutersa, said it recorded double-digit growth in various categories last year, including Cookies, Chocolates, Tresmontes Luchetti, Consumer Foods, Ice Cream, and others.
“We continue to invest in high-growth categories and channels, strengthening the value proposition of the portfolio,” said Gallego.
The company saw positive dynamics in all business units, with sales in Colombia accounting for 59.2% of total revenue and international sales increasing by 11.2%.
