Niche Cocoa Industry Limited, a Ghanaian-owned company, plans to make a significant investment drive to enter the US market.
The company’s first North American plant will take up a 44,00 square foot area in the Franklin Business Park, which is located at 9705 S.
Drive in Oakwood Park.
According to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the project will be the largest food and beverage investment made by an African corporation in the United States and the largest Ghanaian foreign direct investment ever made in Wisconsin (WEDC).
“Niche Cocoa’s historic investment in Wisconsin is an unmistakable signal to other companies across Africa and around the world — the United States is open for business.”
The Company, which has its headquarters in Tema, is Ghana’s largest cocoa processor, working on the project in collaboration with the Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company in Milwaukee.
Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company, founded by Steve Wallace, was a pioneer in the creation of single-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate made in Ghana.
Mr Edmund Poku, the Founder of Niche Cocoa, said, “I will like to say a big thank you to everybody here. You have made this to be a success story, and have welcomed us to your beautiful State.”
He said: “The Cocoa industry is a $100 billion industry, of which Ghana and the Ivory Coast is getting $6 billion. By adding more funding to it, Africans will (benefit) from more foreign investment.”
He said for the United States, it would bring in foreign direct investment, and it brings the technical know-how of how to process chocolate into the country.
“We believe that by coming here we will produce one of the best chocolates … We are bringing the taste of Ghana to Wisconsin,” he added.
According to Mr. Poku, the dairy sector in Wisconsin and the possibility of producing chocolate drinks there in the future were some of the factors that drew Niche Cocoa to the state.
“We are happy to welcome Niche Cocoa to the Franklin Business Park, joining several other well-known food processors/manufacturers and equipment manufacturers.” Mr Franklin Mayor Steve Olson, Mayor of the City of Franklin, said.
He said “Niche Cocoa continued Franklin’s long history of welcoming international corporations to our fast-growing community. “
“Niche recognizes our great location, highly skilled workforce and our great business climate and quality of life for their employees,” he added.
The company will use imported cocoa cake and European food processing machinery at its Franklin Business Park facility, which is anticipated to be operational by December or January, to transform the brick-like cakes into cocoa powder.
Once distributed around the country, the powder will be used by a variety of food manufacturers to create everything from chocolate bars to ice cream.
While giving a tour of the building, Mr. Wallace said that the operation will probably process 1,200 containers of cocoa cake annually.
He claimed that the cake will be conveyed by boat to the U.S. East Coast and then by rail to Chicago.
“Together, we’re creating cocoa products and compelling employment in both the U.S., and Ghana. ” Mr Wallace said.
At some point in 2023, the company intends to start producing finished chocolate at its Franklin facilities.
He said the method will blend Ghanaian cocoa liquor and butter using cutting-edge gear to create chocolate bars for other food processors.
“It will smell heavenly,” Wallace said.
