Cargill Invests in Mouscron Facility to Meet Customer Demand for Belgian Chocolate

MOUSCRON, Belgium, June 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

€12 million investment creates local jobs 

With the rapid rise in consumer demand for premium, high quality Belgian chocolate, Cargill has invested in a new liquid chocolate production line in its Mouscron production facility in Belgium. This investment increases the company's capacity to produce milk and dark chocolate and creates up to 10 new local jobs.

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Liquid chocolate investment 
Cargill's cocoa and chocolate business will open the world-class production line in the last quarter of 2018. With an investment of €12 million ($14 million), the company will be able to further enhance and expand its chocolate capabilities. The investment is a response to growing customer demand for high quality chocolates tailor-made to individual customer specifications, demonstrating Cargill's continued commitment to providing its customers with a secure and broad supply of bespoke cocoa and chocolate products.

Demand for quality, Belgian chocolate 
The new production line, along with the company's deep chocolate knowledge, extensive food experience and R&D proficiency, will help food manufacturers innovate in a market characterized by rapidly changing consumer preferences and expectations. Inge Demeyere, managing director for Cargill's chocolates and compound activities in Europe, said: "Indulgence is a key driver of the demand for premium chocolate. With the new production line, we will be able to better meet Belgium's chocolate needs - and offer more quality Belgian chocolate to customers in other global markets who want to benefit from the country's world-class reputation. At Cargill, we are fully committed to our long-term growth in the Belgian chocolate market."

Belgium, a strategic market 
Cargill currently employs approximately 150 people in production and related services in Mouscron. Belgium has been a focal point of Cargill's cocoa and chocolate business for many years thanks to the country's iconic chocolate production tradition combined with a strong focus on safety and product integrity. The Mouscron facility processes dark and milk chocolate in liquid and solid form for manufacturers active in confectionery, biscuits, bakery, ice-cream and artisanal applications. The company has another chocolate site in Belgium, Antwerp, producing liquid and solid chocolate.

About Cargill 
Cargill's 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.

We combine 153 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture.

Cargill in Belgium 
Cargill was established in Belgium via a grain importing office in Antwerp in 1953. We now have over 1,000 employees in eight locations: Antwerp (two locations), Izegem, Ghent, Herent, Vilvoorde, Mechelen and Mouscron. The company has a number of different and diverse operations in the country, including the production of food ingredients and the processing, distribution and trading of a variety of grains and oilseeds. Both Cargill's European Headquarters for its food businesses and Cargill's European R&D Centre, are also located in Belgium.

About Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate 
Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate offers its customers quality products and services they trust to help them thrive, today and in the future. We consistently deliver a wide range of products-including cocoa powder, liquor and butter, chocolates, fillings and coatings-to help customers stand out from the crowd. Cargill offers peace of mind in the short and long-term; day-to-day we work to the highest safety standards and offer insight-driven price risk management and sustainable cocoa services. For recipe development and optimization, we have seven specialized Application Centers around the world. Our insights on market and consumer trends, combined with our innovation support and consistent performance, make us a proactive partner in all major consumer markets. Cargill's processing plants in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Germany, Ghana, the Netherlands, UK and the USA are in full compliance with the highest food safety standards.

To secure a good quality and sustainable supply of cocoa beans, Cargill has its own cocoa bean sourcing operations for buying, handling and exporting of cocoa beans in Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia. Presence in all the leading producing countries allows Cargill to oversee the supply chain from beans at origin to cocoa and chocolate products on its customers' doorsteps.

With a team of more than 3,500 passionate cocoa and chocolate experts in 47 locations, we provide unique knowledge and proactive services across five continents, built on a foundation of 150 years of experience. Visit http://www.cargillcocoachocolate.com