Chocolate production hit by Ivory Coast unrest
Swiss chocolate makers, among the major importers of cocoa from Ivory Coast, are trying to continue production despite the worsening crisis there.
Like other foreign companies, Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have been affected by the unrest but say it is too early to tell what impact it will have on their figures.
Nestlé’s two factories in the West African country have been closed for a week.
Company spokesman François-Xavier Perroud said that it was unclear when they would re-open. He added that the company’s international employees had already been evacuated.
Perroud said Nestlé did not expect the unrest to have a major impact on its figures.
“It is clear that the difficult situation will have an effect but this is unlikely to affect our consolidated figures,” Perroud said.
The food giant sources about 40 per cent of its cocoa from Ivory Coast, which produces 1.4 million tonnes every year.
Temporary closure
The world’s biggest chocolate maker, Barry Callebaut, briefly closed its three factories earlier this month but the facilities are operating again.
Spokeswoman Gaby Tschofen stressed that the closure would have no effect on the group’s financial results.
Ivorian suppliers have aided Swiss chocolate producers by using ports in neighbouring Togo and Ghana to ensure that the flow of cocoa out of the country is maintained.
The crisis in the Ivory Coast worsened at the beginning of November after fighting between French and Ivorian forces.
The escalating violence has prompted many nations, including Switzerland, to airlift their citizens out of the country.
swissinfo with agencies
The Ivory Coast produces 40 per cent of the world’s entire volume of cocoa.
Nestlé buys 40 per cent of its cocoa from the country.
Switzerland is among the top importers of Ivorian cocoa.
Nestlé’s two factories in the Ivory Coast remain closed.
Barry Callebaut’s factories re-opened after a short interruption.
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