KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 29): Guan Chong Bhd (GCB) is poised to increase its market share in Europe, as its recently-commissioned United Kingdom (UK) facility boosted its annual industrial chocolate capacity by 16% or 16,000 metric tonnes (MT) to 116,000 MT.

“Sitting on more than 6.88 hectares of land and 300,000 square feet of built-up area, the new facility in Suffolk, UK is capable of not only producing 16,000 MT of industrial chocolate annually.

“Its strategic location enables to serve chocolate makers and other clients across Europe, providing just-in-time local deliveries of liquid and solid products, as well as professional services,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

It said the company also aims to capitalise on the growing industrial chocolate demand in Europe, together with the existing 100,000 MT annual capacity in GCB’s German subsidiary, SCHOKINAG-Schokolade-Industrie GmbH (SCHOKINAG).

GCB managing director and chief executive officer Brandon Tay Hoe Lian said the new facility in the UK would further cement its presence in the industrial chocolate market in Europe, integrating GCB’s essential role in the global chocolate supply chain.

“Moving forward, GCB will continue to assess the possibilities to optimise our operations in the UK, Germany, United States, Ivory Coast, Malaysia and Indonesia, as we strive to achieve the vision to be the ‘Preferred Cocoa and Chocolate Ingredients Supplier’,” he said.

Tay said given the increased finance costs in light of financial commitments, GCB plans to gradually reduce borrowings, while also maintaining a balanced approach to expanding the business operations.

“Nonetheless, our plan to enter the industrial chocolate market has proven to be a successful strategic move.

“These value-added products accord us a more favourable product mix that will help GCB to enhance our bottom line to meet long-term growth objectives,” he said.

To date, GCB has a global distribution network of over 80 distributors, and exports cocoa ingredients to established clientele in more than 70 countries worldwide, including world-famous chocolate makers and other leading cocoa ingredient traders.