Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), the US-based agribusiness giant, has signed a deal to buy German chocolate and cocoa powder maker Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie Herrmann.


The purchase is subject to approval by relevant antitrust authorities and is being made, ADM said today (23 January), in a bid to expand its global cocoa and chocolate business.


“This acquisition will be an excellent fit for our business as we continue to enhance our global presence across the entire cocoa and chocolate value chain,” said Mark Bemis, vice president for ADM’s cocoa and milling division. “The expertise of the people, the tradition of quality represented in Schokinag and the scope of the physical assets make our acquisition an important step in positioning ADM to become the preferred supplier of cocoa and chocolate solutions for European customers.”


ADM Cocoa, known for its De Zaan, Ambrosia, Merckens and Unicao brands, acquired the assets of Classic Couverture in 2006, a UK-based chocolate manufacturer for the business-to-business market.


“ADM’s acquisition of Schokinag will strengthen our position in Europe, the world’s largest chocolate market,” said Scott Walker, managing director at ADM Cocoa International. “By integrating Schokinag into our cocoa business, we will better serve this steadily growing chocolate market and realise significant efficiencies in sourcing, operations and transportation.”

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Schokinag, headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, manufactures chocolate and other cocoa products in Mannheim and in Manage, Belgium.


The firm also has sales offices in the UK town of Ludlow and in California.