Amsterdam’s Chocolonely Foundation helps launch cocoa juice factory abroad
From bean to bar to beverage
Kumasi, founded by former RTL journalist Lars Gierveld and business partner Linda Klunder, is building its first cocoa juice factory in Côte d'Ivoire. Backed by the Amsterdam-based Chocolonely Foundation and cocoa trader ETG/Beyond Beans, the facility will press the sweet-tart pulp from cocoa pods into juice for local drinks brand Ivorio.
Gierveld first tasted cocoa juice while filming a documentary in Ghana. “It tasted like a mix of lychee, mango and lime,” he told Dutch media. “We realised farmers were throwing away something delicious.” After searching for a factory location, Klunder moved to Côte d'Ivoire in 2023 to set up the new plant.
From September, the plant expects to produce around 30,000 litres of cocoa juice a year, benefiting some 5,000 farmers who currently earn only from selling dried beans. Kumasi aims to scale to 300,000 litres in 2026.
Cocoa farming families deserve more than a single revenue stream. This is the first time we’ve financed a social enterprise involving large commercial partners. Kumasi’s model meets our goal of changing the status quo.
Anna Laven, chair of the Chocolonely Foundation.
Cocoa capital connection
The Port of Amsterdam, part of the world’s largest cocoa cluster, is Europe's leading entry point for cocoa beans, handling up to 800,000 tonnes a year. This infrastructure has attracted major players, from multinationals to ethical brands such as Tony’s Chocolonely, which channels one per cent of its turnover into the Chocolonely Foundation, and other innovators such as Wild Child Cacao and the Chocolatemakers.