Top UK Chocolatier wants to Invest in Cocoa Farm

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Roger Clarke, has informed that discussions are underway with chocolatier, Charbonnel et Walker Limited, to invest in a local company, which will lead to an expansion of the cocoa industry in the medium-term.

Mr. Clarke made the disclosure at a press conference on August 20 at Jamaica House, to provide details about investment prospects coming out of the Government’s recent trade mission to the United Kingdom (UK), to coincide with the London Olympic Games and the Jamaica 50 celebrations.

Minister Clarke said the company, which has among its clients, Her Majesty the Queen, expressed significant interest in increasing its supply of Jamaican fine-flavoured chocolate by investing in production and value-added activities.

He informed that following these discussions, the company presented a proposal to purchase a Jamaican cocoa farm of 50 to 80 acres, and to rehabilitate it in order to secure its own supplies.

He informed that the Ministry has already identified a cocoa farm in St. Mary and has had initial discussions with the owners.

"Over the medium-term, this company further wishes to establish a fermentary on the farm or outsource their fermenting process to the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB). In the longer-term, their intent is to process chocolate here in Jamaica for their markets in Europe," Minister Clarke indicated.

He informed that the team also had talks with an entity called Black River Chocolate. “This company sources Jamaican fine flavoured cocoa from the CIB, makes single origin luxury chocolate, and distributes it to several European countries. This company is interested in securing a dedicated supply of Jamaican cocoa, “he said.

He noted that Black River also expressed “significant interest” in participating in the process to divest the commercial assets of the CIB, now underway, and more importantly, to work with Jamaican farmers to increase their production so as to secure their supplies.

Minister Clarke informed that contact was also made with the membership of the “fresh produce consortium” and will collaborate with local exporters to overcome specific product challenges to leverage this association in order to increase the exports of Jamaican fresh produce to the UK.

The Ministry will shortly commission a taskforce to address the product specific opportunities and constraints.