Ivory Cocoa Product

Ivory Cocoa Products (ICP) is a significant player in the cocoa processing sector of Côte d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa-producing nation. Founded in 2010 by Ismail EL KHALIL, who serves as the CEO, the company is strategically located in San-Pedro, a key port city in the southwest of the country. Operations commenced during the 2012/2013 season, driven by the vision to process cocoa beans locally rather than exporting them as raw materials, thereby adding more value within the national economy.

The company's core business involves the transformation of locally sourced cocoa beans into semi-finished products. Its product line includes cocoa mass (liquor), cocoa butter, cocoa cake, and cocoa powder. These semi-finished goods serve as essential ingredients for international clients in the chocolate, confectionery, beverage, and cosmetics industries, with primary markets in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East. ICP's business model is centered on B2B sales to major international partners, such as THEOBROMA, which has been a key client. The company's production process is comprehensive, covering cleaning, roasting, sterilization, crushing, grinding, and pressing to extract the different components from the cocoa bean.

ICP has demonstrated substantial growth since its inception. Starting with an initial processing capacity of 25,000 tons of cocoa beans, the company doubled this capacity within its first few years. As of early 2024, its grinding capacity stands at 80,000 tons per year, positioning ICP as the fourth-largest cocoa processor in Côte d'Ivoire, competing alongside major multinational corporations. This expansion has been supported by significant financial partnerships, including loans from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and facilities from the Dutch development bank FMO to upgrade production lines and increase capacity. The company is also noted for its commitment to quality and traceability, holding certifications such as ISO 22000, Fairtrade, and UTZ.

Keywords: cocoa processing, Ivory Coast, cocoa beans, semi-finished cocoa products, Ismail El Khalil, San-Pedro, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa cake, B2B, agribusiness, export, chocolate industry, confectionery supply, cosmetics ingredients, West Africa, commodity processing, sustainable cocoa, FMO, THEOBROMA, Fairtrade certified