Atlantic Cocoa investing 18 million to expand Kribi factory, boosting processing capacity from 48,000 to 64,000 metric tons annually.
Swiss firm Bhler contracted to supply new machinery construction starts mid-2026, completion expected by early 2027.
Total investment in Kribi cocoa plant to surpass 71 million, reinforcing Dossonguis push for local value addition in cocoa.
Atlantic Cocoa, the cocoa bean processing plant built by one of Cte d'Ivoires richest men Kon Dossongui, has begun work on a CFA10 billion 18 million upgrade of its facility in Kribi, Cameroon. The factory, located in the Kribi industrial port zone, is part of Dossonguis Atlantic Groupa West and Central African conglomerate with interests ranging from finance to heavy industry.
Capacity to increase by 16,000 tonsThe upgrade officially kicked off on June 27, 2025, with a launch meeting that set the project in motion. Feasibility studies have started, and the first payment has been made to Bhler, the Swiss equipment manufacturer contracted to supply the new machinery. Construction is expected to begin in July 2026, giving Bhler time to complete production and delivery. Once the equipment arrives, installation and testing should take about six months, with the factory scheduled to be fully operational between late 2026 and early 2027.
The expansion will increase the plants annual grinding capacity from 48,000 to 64,000 metric tons. A source familiar with the project said the final cost may exceed the initial CFA10 billion estimate. With this new investment, total spending on the Kribi facility will rise to over CFA40 billion 71.5 million, factoring in the CFA30 billion 53.6 million already spent to build the plant. The upgrade comes at a crucial time for Atlantic Cocoa, which had to navigate early challenges related to limited bean supply and competition from exporters buying directly from farmers for international traders.
Atlantic Group expands cocoa operationsKon Dossongui entered the private sector after over a decade in public service, having held senior roles in Cte d'Ivoires government between 1979 and the late 1980s. Known for his influence in shaping the countrys agricultural policies, he went on to establish Atlantic Group in 2006. Since then, he has built it into one of the regions leading business groups, with holdings in banking, insurance, cement production, and agribusiness. Among its major industrial ventures is Socit Ciment Cte dIvoire SCCI, a cement plant in Abidjan.
The group is now playing a key role in expanding cocoa processing capacity in both Cte d'Ivoire and Cameroon, which together produce nearly half of the worlds cocoa. Through its cocoa subsidiary, launched in 2015, Atlantic Group aims to boost local processing by building state-of-the-art factories close to where the beans are grown.