Cargill has invested €3.5 million in its site in Kalmthout, Belgium, to increase its capabilities for producing gourmet chocolate.
The investment will provide a fifth gourmet production line and new chocolate tanks within the existing facility, giving greater flexibility in production as well as employing new people locally.
Inge Demeyere, Managing Director of Cargill’s chocolate activities in Europe, stated that the investment strengthens the extended gourmet chocolate offerings that they acquired with Cargill’s purchase of Smet in 2019.
He added that with the complimentary offering of Veliche™ gourmet couverture and Smet decorations, the company could provide additional choice and meet increased demand in the gourmet segment, including its industrial customers.
The investment gives access to improved innovation capabilities and an extended customer network. The new chocolate tanks will also allow enhanced dedicated storage and dedicated piping to provide full flexibility to customer requirements.
According to Inge Demeyere, with Smet, a leading Belgium-based supplier of chocolate and sweets decoration, they have worked hard to confirm customer’s trust, ensuring deep customer intimacy and high speed-to-market.
Along with new decoration technology, enhanced production capabilities, and a wide-ranging product portfolio. The expansion is set to be finished by the end of 2020.
