Cémoi increases chocolate production

France s Cémoi said its industrial chocolate production has increased by almost 30% over the past two years. It now represents 45% of the group s total output which in 2005 totalled 158,000 tonnes of chocolate.
The family-owned Perpignan-based firm, which is France s leading producer of retailers own brand chocolate bars, has invested € 8m in a new plant in Dunkirk which offers production capacity of 20,000 tonnes of liquid chocolate and 9,000 tonnes of cocoa powder.
Cémoi is also eyeing growth in the added-value seasonal chocolate segment which currently accounts for around 15% of its production.