Petra Foods, the Cemoi Group and the Blommer Chocolate Company have formed a Joint Venture (JV) company PACTS (Processors Alliance for Cocoa Traceability and Sustainability) to produce fermented cocoa beans in Africa’s Ivory Coast.

Through an operating subsidiary in the Ivory Coast, PACTS’ mission will be to improve the supply of high quality fermented cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast while at the same time improving the livelihoods of the local cocoa farming community.

The three partners in the JV are all involved in the production of cocoa-derived products. Petra Foods is one of the world’s major manufacturers and suppliers of cocoa ingredients and is a leading player in branded consumer confectionery products in South East Asia; Cemoi is the No. 1 chocolate producer in France and the third-largest chocolate producer in Europe; while Blommer is the largest processor of cocoa beans and ingredient chocolate products in North America.

Over a three-year period, the JV will establish up to 30 fermentation centres at a total investment cost of €2.3 million ($3.9 million). Initially, the JV will work with up to 50 local co- operatives covering 10,000 farmers. However, it is expected that the evident benefits to the cocoa farming community (better prices earned from better quality fermented cocoa) will lead to a widespread acceptance of the quality techniques used by the JV.

The JV will also develop and implement advanced training and instruction programs for farmers in the Ivory Coast, currently the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans (accounting for over 40% of global production). These programmes will help enhance the incomes of local farmers by training them to improve efficiencies and increase yields of their farms.