Ways to Sea Cacao Special 2019 by amports

AUG 2019 ISSUE #2

Ways To Sea

ARE WAYS TO SEE

Cocoa Special

Amsterdam cocoa warehouses invest millions in new storage space

Mission report West Africa Cocoa: sustainability now standard Chained to chocolate

Trending Amsterdam cocoa business is booming

Ways to Sea #2 – Cocoa Special 2019

audience of Amports participants,

Chief editor

Contributed to this number

The Cacoa Special 2019 gives an

municipal authorities in the Amsterdam

Roel Mostert

Rob Schoemaker, Marieke van Santvoort,

overview on current and future

Metropolitan Area, politicians, private

developments in the cocoa sector

individuals, entrepreneurs and interest

Concept & art direction

of the port of Amsterdam. It is a

groups.

Saiid & Smale, Amsterdam

news and background information about

General information

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E-mail: amports@amports.nl

port related business in Amsterdam,

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Zaanstad, Beverwijk and IJmuiden to

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everyone involved and interested in this

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particular area.

The Netherlands

Roel Mostert, Caroline Lubbers

39 CCN New terminal on the horizon

Cocoa is king Port of Amsterdam Cocoa Mission to Ghana and Ivory Coast

Container concept North West Central Corridor already a success

Katoen Natie Amsterdam branch fulfils ambition for growth

Cocoa colors Mission diversity was refreshing and in-dept

COLOPHON

Chocolatemakers First CO2-neutral cocoa factory in the world

Cargill reports Sustainability is now standard in cocoa industry

Ter Haak Group Spider in the Amsterdam cocoa web

Vollers Holland Full steam ahead: ambition to grow in Amsterdam

Pure Dutch HD Cotterell at home in cacoa, logistics ánd port services

Chained to chocolate Who benefits from the industry in the port of Amsterdam

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supplement to Ways to Sea that offers

Printed matter Photography Anko Stoffels, Marieke van Santvoort,

The Ways to Sea – Cocoa Special 2019 has a circulation of 3,500 copies and

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Chocolatemakers, TMA Logistics, Ter

is distributed free of charge to a target

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Haak Group, Chocoa, Vollers Holland

Ten Brink Uitgever Amsterdam / Meppel

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Content

The Cocoa Special 2019 gives you an extensive update of the current and future situation in one of the largest cocoa ports in the world. To inform the international community about the Amsterdam cocoa sector we produced this issue in English. Most of the content will be published in the Dutch language, online and in Ways to Sea October issue

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PREVIEW

The story behind the chocolate bar A bar of chocolate suddenly gets a completely different charge if you consume the content of this extensive Cacao Special. The mere fact that 600,000 tons of cocoa beans are stored and transshipped in this port every year, a large part of which is processed as an ingredient for the Dutch food industry, indicates that the business community along the North Sea Canal Area is an essential link in the global food industry. In the Netherlands, that sector is currently valued at around 65 billion euros a year and it employs more than 135,000 people, 6% of which are cocoa related. This value development in the cocoa sector can largely be attributed to companies, many of which have been active in the ports of Amsterdam since the 17th century. And now along the Zaan and in Westpoort, where investments are made with confidence in the future. Especially the vemen, that invest around 150 million in the construction and innovation of their terminals.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The North Sea Canal area is an essential link in the global food industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

A lot has happened in the global cocoa industry between the last trade mission to West Africa in 2009 and the one that took place earlier this year. Cocoa is king in the port of Amsterdam, but sustainability has become standard and runs like a thread through several stories in this publication. Highlighted by companies like Chocolatemakers, who will open there 100% carbon neutral factory in October. It all demonstrates the great ambition and growth that is currently taking place in the ports of Amsterdam. It is up to Amports to visualize the developments in the largest cocoa port of Europe. To position this within the rest of the offer and continuously claim that this part of the economy provides nearly 70,000 direct and indirect jobs. Because we want to share the success of the cocoa sector with our foreign partners, we deliberately carried out this special in English. The Dutch-language stories will appear online and in the next Ways to Sea in October 2019. Have a nice summer vacation! Annemarie Manger Chairman Amports

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Trending

Chocoa#8 19-23 February 2020 Amsterdam Amsterdam will host Chocoa for the 8th time at Beurs van Berlage from 19 to 23 February 2020. The last two days of the fair are traditionally open for the public. The concept contains a cocoa trade fair, a conference on the sustainability of the cocoa chain, and a festival. The Port of Amsterdam is a partner of the event from the very beginning. Over 80 booths at the trade fair feature cocoa from mainstream and fine flavour origins from Asia, Africa, South and Central America. More information at www.chocoa.nl/business

CTVrede-Steinweg opens new terminal The new CTVrede-Steinweg container terminal at business park Hoogtij in Westzaan (Zaanstad) will be put into use in September 2019. Situated in the port of Amsterdam, CTVrede-Steinweg invested in a new storage and transfer site of almost 40.000 sqm. Most of the containers handled alongside the Noordzeekanaal will cocoa related. Building construction started in October 2018. CTVrede-Steinweg B.V. Terminal Hoogtij. Achterspring 1 1551 NR Westzaan

Most sustainable chocolate factory in the world As from October Amsterdam will have the scoop of the most sustainable chocolate factory in the world. Prood owner is Chocolatemakers, known for its 100% sustainable chocolate and cocoa beans that are imported from South America by sailboat. The new factory’s energy demand will be supplied via a fully transparent solar panel roof. When fully in operation the new off the grid factory will be able to produce between 300 and 400 tonnes of chocolate per year. Read more at page 20 and 21.

River cruise at Zaanse Schans explains the ports cocoa history Cocoa has been an important part of the Zaan port industry since the beginning of the 17th century. As the first industrial area in the world, Zaandam processed tons of cocoa. Produced in many of the 600 windmills that were operational. Now that traditional windmills are replaced by factories, the story of authentic chocolate making lives on at Zaanse Schans. Windmill Cruises offers a unique Chocolate River Tour that navigates you right through this unique history. Info and bookings: www.windmillcruises.nl

On a mission for sustainability, quality and space

Amsterdam Cocoa industry is booming

The cocoa sector changed fundamentally between the last Amsterdam cocoa mission to Western Africa in 2009 and the trip earlier this year. Mostly in a positive sense. Sustainability is now the starting point, which means the cocoa buying and processing industry has accepted its responsibility. They work on making cocoa production and logistics less environmentally burdensome, and actively improving the living conditions of local farmers and their families. Port of Amsterdam and the nearby industrial area along the Zaan show also positive developments in terms of volume and quality. Cocoa warehousers like Vollers, Commodity Centre Netherlands, CWT Commodities, CT Vrede and Katoen Natie invest between 120 and 150 million euros in storage space and innovative, sustainable logistic solutions. All aiming at minimising the carbon footprint and enabling the compartmentalisation of the product batches.

it comes from and whether it is indeed a ‘fair’ product. Furthermore, the strength of the Amsterdam cocoa cluster is underlined by the fact that many of the certification labels originate in the Netherlands.

Volume increase The Netherlands is the main importer of cocoa beans in Europe, reaching 991,000 tonnes in 2017, valued at € 2.2 billion. While imports remained stable around 650 thousand tonnes from 2012 to 2014, they increased significantly between 2015 and 2017. Import volumes in the 2013–2017 period grew at an annual average rate of +12%. The Netherlands has the world’s second-largest cocoa bean grinding activities, behind Ivory Coast. The cocoa-grinding industry in the Netherlands has consumed an estimated 565,000 tonnes of cocoa beans between 2016 and 2017. A majority of the business is based in the port of Amsterdam, with currently 600,000 tonnes of transhipped cocoa per year.

Consumers are increasingly interested in (organic) high quality chocolate

Via Antwerp Traceability The investments tie in with another key trend within the cocoa sector: traceability. Consumers are increasingly interested in (organic) high quality chocolate. They want to know exactly what they put in their mouths, where 6

Due to the disappearance of many direct deep sea deliveries from Western Africa, much of those cocoa beans reach the Amsterdam warehouses via the port of Antwerp. Nonetheless these companies (in Dutch: vemen) are still willing to invest in Amsterdam. 7

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Port of Amsterdam and Zaanstad visit Ivory Coast and Ghana

Cocoa is king Earlier this spring, thirty cocoa specialists from the Port of Amsterdam region visited the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two most important cocoa-producing countries for the industry cluster in the North Sea Canal area. The organising team, Astrid Fisser (Port of Amsterdam) and Alwin Westerbeek (Municipality of Zaanstad), considered the trip a success. “This mission generated a great deal of valuable knowledge and useful contacts.” Since time immemorial, the port of Amsterdam region has been the largest point of import for cocoa, each year responsible for the storage and transhipment of around 600,000 tonnes of the product. “We are home to a rock solid and highly diversified cluster,” explained Astrid Fisser, commercial manager cocoa at the Port of Amsterdam, and Alwin Westerbeek, economic network 8

developer at the Municipality of Zaanstad. “This industrial cluster by the Zaan river generates added value worth 2.5 billion euros. The area is not only home to massive cocoa storage warehouses and producers of semi-finished goods and chocolate, but also to the certification agencies and international sector organisations. We also organise the highly successful annual Chocoa festival.”

Healthy investment climate According to Fisser, the cocoa businesses in Amsterdam and Zaanstad are once again flourishing. “The economic crisis and the civil war in Ivory Coast are now behind us. Warehousing companies like Vollers, Commodity Centre Netherlands, CWT Commodities and Katoen Natie are investing heavily to the tune of between 120 and 150 million euros both

in new warehousing facilities and in sustainability programmes and innovations, such as solar panels. Another key requirement imposed by customers in 2019 is traceability. Not only do they want to know everything about the quality, but also about the precise provenance of their cocoa beans.”

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‘Amsterdam focuses particularly on the storage of cocoa while Zaanstad is the processing centre’ Alwin Westerbeek

Sound cooperation Alwin Westerbeek is enthusiastic about the growing cooperation between the Municipality of Zaanstad and the Port of Amsterdam in respect of the cocoa sector. “Amsterdam focuses particularly on the storage of cocoa while Zaanstad is the processing centre. What could be more logical than for these two parties to join forces?!” He continued, “In the past, we concentrated exclusively on the industrial activities within our own municipal boundaries. Today, Astrid and I pay joint visits to our customers throughout the region, be they storage warehouses or production companies. It is increasingly clear that the idea of a single point of contact is appealing to most businesses. For us, too, it means a greater understanding of the cocoa supply chain: who are the key players, and what are their plans for the future?”

Commercial enterprise One key area of policy focus within the coalition agreement of the current Municipal Executive of Zaanstad is commercial enterprise in Zaanstad. As Westerbeek continued, “The council recognises the importance of house building, but also has the ambition to create sufficient space for commercial enterprise, and hence economic development. Against that background we as the municipal authority are making every possible effort to ease the way for the cocoa processing companies, and that includes participation in the cocoa mission.”

HoogTij

Emmanuel Asiamah (48 years)

The Port of Amsterdam and Zaanstad are today working together in other areas, too. One excellent example is HoogTij, a new industrial estate by the North Sea Canal, developed by Zaanstad, the Port of Amsterdam and the Westzaan Port Development Corporation (Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Haventerrein Westzaan OHW) where CTVrede is building a new waterside container terminal, eradicating the need for trucks to transport produce from and to a storage location.

My wife and I are happy. We share everything. She helps me to dry the cocoa, and I am responsible for the more manual labour such as the harvesting. I farm more than 14 hectares of land, mainly dedicated to cocoa but also some cassava and yams. Half of the land belongs to someone else. I pay him half of my revenue. I invest heavily, in particular in inputs (artificial fertilisers and pesticides). I sometimes hire in extra labour, too. It took seven years before I started making a profit, but now I can get by. I am proud that I am able to support my wife and three children (aged 19, 12 and 8). I am now saving for a spraying machine that can be carried on a man’s back. We have just had a dry season; the trees still

Cocoa Mission to West Africa Collaboration within the Amsterdam-Zaanstad cocoa cluster is of inestimable value. Just as important, however, is collaboration and the resultant contacts between the port of Amsterdam region and the cocoa exporting countries Ivory Coast and Ghana. With that in mind, the Port of Amsterdam organised a five-day Cocoa Mission to West Africa, this spring, headed up by Zaanstad alderman Elisabeth Post and a delegation of thirty specialists. The primary objective of the mission was to strengthen the ties between the Amsterdam-Zaanstad region and the production countries in West Africa. “The last time a major delegation visited Ivory Coast and Ghana was some ten years ago, so it was about time to renew our contacts,” continued Fisser. “This visit was a huge success. We established meaningful contacts with cooperatives, Ministries, storage warehouses, merchants and the port authorities in both >

have to be watered by hand. I produce around 80 sacks (each weighing 64 kg) a year. I prefer to keep my production figures secret; if other people knew how much I produce they might become jealous and practise black magic on me or my family.

Rebecca Atwima (54 years) I have six children, two of whom live at home with me. My husband died two months ago. I have three hectares of land. Each year, I produce around 12 sacks of cocoa, worth €600 a year. When I am paid at the end of the year, I first pay all my children’s school fees. But the money soon runs out; it is not enough. That is why I also grow cashew nuts and cola nuts that I can sell locally. We do receive some government support. They supply free inputs, but it is never enough for the entire village. And we often have to wait for our money. I work on the farm every day except Sundays. My dream is to own a large cocoa farm, so I can earn more money.

Cocoa by the North Sea Canal Over the years, the presence of so many cocoa and chocolate factories along the Zaan river has made the port of Amsterdam the world’s largest centre for the import of cocoa. The port of Amsterdam is home to major storage warehouse companies such as Vollers, Steinweg-Handelsveem, Katoen Natie, Commodity Centre Netherlands, CWT Commodities, HD Cotterell, ACS and DSV. Together, they are responsible for storing around 600,000 tonnes of cocoa each year, representing around twenty percent of the world’s production. Ninety percent of the cocoa in the Amsterdam port region originates from Ivory Coast and Ghana; the remaining ten percent comes from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Indonesia. Once they leave the storage warehouses, the cocoa beans are transported to regional cocoa companies such as Cargill, OLAM (formerly ADM), Dutch Cocoa, JS Cocoa (formerly Jan Schoemaker). Here, the beans are processed into semi-finished goods (cocoa paste, cocoa butter and cocoa powder). It looks likely that in around three years’ time, a new special chocolate factory belonging to Tony’s Chocolonely will be set up in the port of Amsterdam region. The planned location is the former Pakhuis De Vrede warehouse by the North Sea Canal in Zaandam. As well as its production facilities, they also plan to build a large visitors’ centre, complete with roller coaster. The company expects to attract around 500,000 visitors each year.

The links in the cocoa supply chain

countries. As a result, we now have a greater insight into their objectives and expectations for the future.”

There are 900,000 cocoa f armers in Ivory Coast. On average, they earn €0.69 per day.

Abidjan

Traders sell the cocoa to large international companies.

Middlemen are employed by t raders to purchase the cocoa from the farmers.

600,000 tonnes of cocoa arrive via the port of Amsterdam each year.

The cocoa factory presses cocoa butter and powder from the beans.

Cocoa beans are stored in warehouses for between 3 and 5 years.

The chocolate factory recombines the butter and powder, and adds sugar.

Consumers have a great deal to choose from. Good-quality chocolate comes at a price.

While in Ivory Coast, the Port of Amsterdam International and the port of Abidjan signed a declaration of intent. Astrid Fisser explained, “The Port of Amsterdam will be collaborating with Abidjan in the same way that we have been cooperating with the port of San Pedro in the field of nautical management, logistics and sustainability for years.” Westerbeek added, “We were a very diverse group including representatives of the industry, cocoa warehousing businesses, dealers, banks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Province of Noord-Holland, the Port of Amsterdam, the Municipalities of Zaanstad and Amsterdam and NGOs, including the Rainforest Alliance. A number of them had often visited West Africa, while for others it was the first time. Everyone was able to get to know one another, better.” In total, the delegation visited five Ministries in Ivory Coast and three in Ghana.

The importance of sustainability According to Fisser and Westerbeek, sustainability is a priority issue in Ivory Coast and Ghana, too. “It was a subject of discussion during all meetings at the various Ministries. The difference is that in West Africa, sustainability is not so much about recycling and solar panels but instead is focused on a different set of themes including climate change, deforestation and education. All these issues have a huge influence on cocoa production. Naturally, both Ivory Coast and Ghana wish to maintain and preferably strengthen their position on the world market, for example by boosting the production per hectare but also by delivering more added value.” Ivory Coast is the world’s largest cocoa producer, with an output of around two million tonnes a year, or around forty percent of world production. At around 950,000 tonnes, Ghana is number two.

Retailers play an important role in consumer awareness about chocolate. The market share of sustainable certified chocolate products is constantly rising.

Return visit The organisers have already decided on a suitable follow-up to the mission. As Fisser explained, “A working group has been esta-

blished to study how missions of this kind can be organised more often, and how we can best welcome delegations from the Ministries in Ivory Coast and Ghana. We will also be looking for ways of further strengthening the collaboration between the port of Amsterdam region and the two African countries, specifically with regard to sustainability and logistics, but also to ensure that even more added value is generated. These wishes were often expressed during our visit to Ivory Coast and Ghana.”

Astrid Fisser and Alwin Westerbeek photographed at the Zaanstad commercial estate HoogTij. Behind them the new crane at CTVrede. “The cocoa business in Amsterdam and Zaanstad is once again flourishing. Storage warehouse businesses like Vollers, Commodity Centre Netherlands, CWT Commodities and Katoen Natie are investing heavily to the tune of between 120 and 150 million euros.’

www.hoogtij.com www.portofamsterdam.nl www.zaanstad.nl

Cocoa in Amsterdam since 1706 Let us take the time to go back in history. Cocoa and c hocolate have long enjoyed close ties with Amsterdam and Zaanstad. The first cocoa arrived in the port of Amsterdam from Cuba, as far back as 1628. Amsterdam’s first ‘socholademakery’ set up shop in 1706. The next major milestone was the invention in 1828 of the coco press, by Coenraad Johannes van Houten. For the first time, it was possible to separate the fat from the cocoa paste, and so produce cocoa powder. The advent of the steam engine and the construction of the North Sea Canal in the second half of the nineteenth century helped the cocoa industry in Amsterdam and on the banks of the Zaan river to flourish. Verkade started producing c hocolate in 1886, followed in 1911 by Cacaofabriek De Zaan and in 1928 by Gerkens. In the nineteen eighties and nineties, each of these companies was acquired by foreign groups such as United Biscuits, ADM (today OLAM) and Cargill. However, whether with Dutch or foreign owners, together with Duyvis Wiener, JS Cocoa and Daarnhouwer, among others, these industrial concerns play an essential role in the Amsterdam-Zaandam cocoa cluster.

Femke Brenninkmeijer en Vanessa Witteman

‘Mission diversity was refreshing and in-depth’

Cocoa colors The Amsterdam cocoa mission to West Africa last March was divers in composition, as well in age as in background. The participants came from the port, politics, NGO’s and banks and a striking number of women this time. That was a conscious decision. Mission participants Vanessa Witteman (Steinweg Handelsveem) and Femke Brenninkmeijer (Port of Amsterdam) explain why group diversity works.

“Because of the activities of our company and my logistics job in it, I tend to live in a kind of bubble. I’ve been going to Ivory Coast for twenty years, so you think you know what’s there and you will see what you always see,” says Vanessa Witteman of C. Steinweg Handelsveem, a logistics service provider who are the first link in the cocoa chain outside the countries of origin. “Therefore I hesitated about joining the mission. But I haven’t regretted it for a single moment. For although I did see things I already knew, because of the group’s mixed composition I also learnt to look at things differently, which was both refreshing and enlightening. Talking to people who each do something different within the chain broadens your horizon.”

Mission objectives The cocoa mission had four objectives: identifying new connections and business opportunities. Secondly, bringing the sustainability agenda to the attention, thirdly, strengthening the cocoa community in Amsterdam and Zaanstad and finally positioning the cluster Amsterdam-Zaanstad as an equal partner of Ivorian and Ghanaian partners in trade and development. Because of these objectives, the composition of the participants was varied.

Femke Brenninkmeijer: “There was a decent range in terms of age - from 25 to 70+, in the male / female ratio of 60/40, in cultural background. Everyone was equal. “Witteman:” Now I have a commercial position so I always have a keen eye for following a lead or getting a client to speak. People were not only concerned with their own interests. There was a mutual interest, not competitive. We really operated as a cluster.”

The Amsterdam mission visits a cocoa plant in Ghana

Collateral gain “This cocoa mission exemplifies the power of diversity,” Brenninkmeijer says. “It would be great if we could use it as a blueprint for other groups and organisations. At Port of Amsterdam we have therefore started a working group on diversity. And inclusiveness, of course, for every member of this mission felt part of the group. Hopefully people can carry this over into their own companies and their contacts with other companies.” Witteman: “On this trip I have got to know some people better. You have different conversations about the ins and outs of your job. It’s a plus that you can utilize. The whole group experienced this as a collateral gain.”

‘I hesitated about joining the mission. But I haven’t regretted it for a single moment’ Vanessa Witteman

. . .

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Rabobank Foundation & cocoa Norandino

The saving and credit cooperative (Coopac) Norandino was established in 2005 by three producer organisations; Cepicafe, Cenfrocafe and Oro Verde. A cooperative financial institution such as Norandino was needed to further develop rural financial service

Westhavenweg 45 1042 AL Amsterdam • T. 020 4486448 • info@saedt.nl • www.saedt.nl

provision in the north of Peru. Thanks to Norandino, over the years thousands of small farmers have obtained access to funding. Norandino currently has 8.250 members and 9 offices spread across different provinces in the north of Peru. Since 2009 Rabobank Foundation has sponsored this growth. This saving and credit organisation is a key intermediary for the many small coffee and cocoa corporations in the region. These organisations are often too small and not sufficiently professionalised to be eligible for working capital or trade finance. Working capital and training How do we work with Coopac Norandino? Rabobank Foundation grants a loan to Coopac Norandino, which in turn lends to a smaller coffee or cocoa operation. This working capital means that the farmers’ harvests can be bought at a fair price. That’s good for the cooperative as well as for the farmers because they get a better price for their harvest than they would on the local market. Norandino also provides training and advice to

Unique terminal in Europe: weatherproof stevedoring Simplifying logistics.

smaller cooperatives and helps with capacity building. This means that these organisations can grow sustainably until they are able to operate independently. Organisations which reach that stage can then be directly financed by Rabobank Foundation. Rabobank Foundation also joined hands with Chocolatemakers and made a special Rabobank chocolate bar. The cocoa beans that they use to make the chocolate are from Peru. Rabobank Zaanstreek has adopted this project and donates its annual contribution through Foundation to Norandino.

Waterland Terminal Elbaweg 10 1044 AD Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 (0)20 448 06 20 waterlandterminal@vcklogistics.com www.vcklogistics.com

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Cargill: prominent position in Amsterdam since the eighties

Sustainable is now standard The cocoa division of Cargill has occupied a prominent position in the port of Amsterdam since the nineteen eighties: with factories for semifinished and finished products in the Zaanstad district and as a major customer for various Amsterdam warehousing companies. The trade and the supply chain from the countries of origin in West Africa and Central America are managed from the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head office at Schiphol.

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clear preference for maintaining storage locations close to the factories in the Zaanstad district. Moesbergen continues, “The next step in advancing sustainability lies in the optimum form of storage, in terms of efficiency, and limiting the carbon footprint when it comes to transporting the cocoa products to the factories. Some warehouses, such as CWT, have already installed batteries of solar panels of their roofs, and another key aspect is of course the distance from warehouse to factory. That distance can then be bridged with electric or LPG transport by truck, or inland barge. We are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to optimise the transport flow and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Changes

O Gerkens Cocoa a well know company alongside the river Zaan since 1928,. Now part of Cargill’s chocolate factory.

Over the past ten years, cocoa production has boomed. West Africa – Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria – still represent 70% of the world production of around 4 to 4.5 million tonnes of cocoa beans. In this growth market, a proportion of the beans are processed locally in the countries of origin into semi-finished and finished products, that then make their way to Europe. Amsterdam is still the world’s largest port for the import of cocoa beans and semi-finished products. “The truly dominant trend on the world market is sustainability,” explained Marijn Moesbergen, senior cocoa trader at Cargill and responsible for the global purchase of beans and for supplying the European factories. Moesbergen works at the Cargill head office at Schiphol, where several hundred people are employed in managing the cocoa trade, on a daily basis.

Cargill Cacoa Promise “Sustainability has fundamentally changed the focus of the business. Ten years ago, the first batch of certified beans arrived in Amsterdam – at the time a cause for celebration. Today, more than half of all imported beans are certified, be it UTZ, Rain Forest or Organic. Sustainability is now the standard. Cargill – and together with several of our

competitors – now buy beans in the country of origin from cooperatives that are all required to satisfy sustainability requirements. Among the most relevant issues are responsible production for both farmer and the natural environment, the use of pesticides and of course programmes aimed at tackling deforestation, and creating safe and reliable working environments without forced labour or child labour. On top of that, the end producers of the chocolate – our customers – are free to impose additional requirements. Via our Cargill Cocoa Promise, together with our partners, we are looking to establish longterm solutions in favour of the farmers, their communities and the natural ecosystems. At the same time, we guarantee greater transparency in the cocoa supply chain.”

Close to Zaanstad The more cocoa beans that are certified, the easier it becomes to combine large sustainable goods flows in and from West Africa, based simply on economies of scale. The next stage is to optimise the transport flows to Europe – in bulk, by container or in sacks. A huge volume of beans arrives in Antwerp and Rotterdam in containers, and the majority are then transported onwards to the storage warehouses in Amsterdam. There is still a

“One thing that has remained practically unchanged over the past ten years is the actual processing of the cocoa,” says Moesbergen. “The semi-finished products are still the same – cocoa paste, cocoa powder and cocoa butter – and the process itself has remained broadly the same. Legislation and rules governing production and storage have been tightened up, and that has led to compartmentalisation in the warehouses, and separate production runs. There are also refinements in terms of product-specific characteristics such as flavour and aroma, and there is greater demand for traceability when it comes to the source of the cocoa. These changes are reflected in smaller storage volumes and more knowledge about the product. Today’s consumers want to know exactly what they are eating.”

Strength of the Amsterdam cluster The strength of the Amsterdam/Zaanstad cluster lies in the cooperation between the companies involved in the cocoa business, and all the centuries of expertise that is still expanding today, through new innovations: at the storage warehouses, within the industry, among the mechanical engineers, the ship operators and the transport companies. Amsterdam is also home to the NGOs, like UTZ, which has its headquarters in the city. Duyvis Wiener based in Koog aan de Zaan supplies cocoa-processing equipment to

companies all over the world while JS Cocoa is capable of processing residual batches of cocoa products. A cluster is more than the sum of its individual parts, argued Moesbergen. “All our competitors are based here too, but when it suits us, we are willing to work together. That fact makes Amsterdam and the Zaanstad district unique, and that in turn makes it worthwhile defending, strengthening and innovating to retain our position.”

‘A new generation has arisen in Africa and Europe, Marijn Moesbergen (Cargill)

Cocoa Mission 2019 Year in year out, the global consumption of chocolate is showing continuous modest growth. The primary markets are still Europe and North America, but increasingly also Asia, and even Africa itself. In Moesbergen’s words, “Characteristically, when we visited West Africa with the Amsterdam Cocoa Mission last March, instead of coffee, we were served chocolate milk at the Ministry in Ghana. Over the past ten years, the process towards sustainability has changed operating methods throughout West Africa. One of the causes is of course the establishment of local processing factories. The infrastructure and stability in these countries have helped bring about internal investments. The governments of Ivory Coast and Ghana play an active role in encouraging the industry to process cocoa beans in the country of origin. Whereas previous cocoa missions were above all hallmarked by networking among the mission members, this year the aim was different, dealt with different subjects with different discussion partners and attracted different players: from African politicians and business representatives, the port authorities, the warehouses, the industry, NGOs and banks such as ING and Rabobank.”

Level of education “A new generation has arisen in Africa and Europe”, concludes Moesbergen. “Which has a positive effect on everything from the increase of the education level to growth in import volumes and investment levels in Europe, an ever-larger proportion of the total annual harvest volume and value in the cocoa chain is remaining in Africa. Sustainability is now standard, but obviously also continuous growth.”

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Chocolatemakers Amsterdam opens new energy-neutral factory

Cocoa

The meeting between Enver Loke and Rodney Nikkels during their study of Tropical Land Use at Wageningen University eventually led to the opening of the first bean to bar chocolate factory in the Netherlands. Their activities and ideas within the cocoa chain are diametrically opposed to those of the cocoa multinationals. “Instead of talking about profit maximisation, why not focus on value maximisation. How can you add value for the cocoa farmers, for their agricultural land and for the natural environment? And how do you explain that value to consumers?”

“Cocoa trees grow within certain latitudes around the equator, but that in no way means they are native right across the area. The cocoa tree was in fact imported into West Africa by Western businesses that since that time have transported practically the entire harvest to the West for consumption, leaving behind poverty and exhausted soil. And of course, chocolate is a topflight product in terms of emotion, experience and flavour.” These words were spoken by Enver Loke who, together with Rodney Nikkels, has been co-owner since 2011 of Chocolatemakers, the first bean-to-bar factory in Amsterdam. His words reveal the Chocolatemakers dilemma. On the one hand, an intense love for cocoa as a product and the technical challenge of turning it into the most delicious chocolate possible, and on the other, the huge concerns about the social and environmental problems that are inherent in the production and transport of both beans and chocolate.

Chocolate festival “We have always been fascinated by cocoa,” continued Loke. “Ten years ago we organised the first chocolate festival in Amsterdam, with the aim of introducing consumers to the manufacture of chocolate in general. It proved

a difficult challenge, because the cocoa industry is not particularly accessible. We decided at the time to establish our own bean-to-bar factory in Amsterdam Noord, which started production in 2011 with second-hand and converted machines that we picked up from a wide variety of sources. Fortunately, we can both turn our hands to practically anything. Visitors to our factory can see how the chocolate is made, and how much equipment and knowledge the process actually requires.”

Good price The aim of Chocolatemakers is to work as sustainably as possible. Loke explained, “In other words, we purchase organically grown beans from cooperatives in the producing countries, for a good price; far higher in fact than the FairTrade rate. The organic farming of the beans we purchase from three cooperatives is ‘mixed’. In other words, the cocoa beans are not planted as a single crop on a piece of land, but come from plots where there are other trees and natural undergrowth, and on which no artificial fertilisers or pesticides are used. This approach helps prevent the soil becoming exhausted. A cocoa plantation using traditional growing methods is exhausted after between 20 and 25 years.

An organic cocoa tree can live to be seventy years old. Avoiding the use of pesticides is also crucial for the health of the farmers and their children; and don’t forget the same pesticides find their way into the cocoa beans, and therefore also into the chocolate!”

Sailing ship and bicycle Chocolatemakers have been selling different types of chocolate since 2011, made form beans from the Congo, Peru and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. The transport of the beans, the semi-finished products and the chocolate itself represents an environmental burden. Loke explained, “We have the beans we import from the Dominican Republic transported by the sail-powered freighter Tres Hombres. In Amsterdam, all transport is by bicycle, and twice a year 130 delivery cycles visit more than twenty German cities, carrying 20,000 bars of chocolate; the trip is known as the Schokofahrt. The idea is simple: from cocoa tree to consumer without expending a single drop of petroleum. At our new location on the Radarweg, we now even produce our own green electricity, sufficient for the whole of our production. It is fun to

do. The bars of chocolate we manufacture and distribute require around one eighth of the CO2 per kilogram compared with traditional industrially produced chocolate.”

Value maximisation “Of course we recognise that production and transport methods of this kind are not yet a realistic option for the whole of the industry – we have a high value chain and as a result a different business model, and you could accuse us of trying to be cleaner than clean – but if we as a niche player can serve as a source of inspiration for others, then that must be a good thing,” suggested Loke. “The fact that we do it shows that it is possible. For example, the prices farmers are receiving per tonne of cocoa beans this year are around thirty percent lower than last year. For that there is no excuse and no possible explanation. At the end of the day, by exhausting the agricultural land and the surrounding environment, the industry is effectively shooting itself in the foot. These are discussions we need to be having. Stop trading on the basis of maximum profit and switch to maximum value in every link of the chain.”

Yes we can!

WAY S T O S E A

New factories While Chocolatemakers currently produces around sixty tonnes of chocolate a year, when the new factory opens in October, that could rise to between 300 and 400 tonnes. Loke again, “It represents a considerable investment. Because chocolate making is a mechanical process, it is necessary for us to purchase or build ‘new’ equipment, with higher capacity. Thanks to solar panels, our new factory will be energy neutral. At the same time, we will have to distribute our higher production volumes, and that means more sales and marketing, areas in which we have a great deal to learn. Perhaps with a partner. Cooperation is something we are good at.”

Factory in Peru This talent for cooperation is also reflected in the countries of origin. Loke concluded, “Right now we are in the process of building a cocoa-processing plant together with the cooperative, in Peru, so that we can manufacture semi-finished products in situ, using high-quality organically farmed beans. This will also give the cooperative a less dependent position on the market. The eventual goal is to ensure that a larger proportion of the revenue from the cocoa chain ends up with the farmers in the producing countries. The factory has just been opened and we are currently involved in initial trials. In the first year, we expect to produce around 1000 tonnes of cocoa paste in Peru.”

Cocoa beans from Chocolatemakers are transported from South America to the Netherlands by the Dutch sailing ship Très Hombres, 100% CO2-neutral.

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WAY S T O S E A

North West Central Corridor already a success story

Container concept Lelystad, Harlingen and Hasselt joined the North West Central corridor, representing a volume rise of 100,000 TEU. All cargo will be handled/ transported via TMA Amsterdam

The North West Central Corridor that connect Velsen, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Tiel and Rotterdam v.v. was developed by TMA Logistics, CTU and VCL. It has proven a real success. The combination of cargoes has resulted in fixed appointments at the deep sea terminals in Rotterdam which means more sustainable transport and less delays through cargo bundling in the corridor.

Inland shipping

The figures reflect the effectiveness of the concept. The number of inland terminals connected to the North West Central Corridor has risen from five to eight in just three months, and there is a clear increase in volume but also an increase in by shippers and shipping lines.

Inland shipping is an essential element for the transport of containers along the Amsterdam-Utrecht-Rotterdam route. In practice, the cooperation means that the ships at the various terminals combine a minimum of between 150 and 200 containers destined for a one single deep sea container terminal in Rotterdam (RWG, APMT1&2, ECT Delta, ECT Euromax). To start with, seven barges will be carrying out seventeen sailings a week.

Northern Netherlands The inland terminals in Lelystad (CTU), Harlingen (TMA/HOV) and Hasselt (Westerman) joined the corridor this month, representing a volume rise of around 100,000 TEU, all of which pass via TMA Amsterdam. As a result, the Northern Netherlands are also benefiting from the new link. According to Rens Rohde, CFO of TMA Holding, “Deep sea terminals, port authorities, shipping operators and container handlers are more than delighted with the initiative. All in all it is a successful concept, and the customers are the ultimate winners.” The North West Central Corridor is supported by deep sea container terminals in Rotterdam, the Port of Amsterdam, the Port of Rotterdam and the sustainable logistic programme Lean & Green Europe.

Lower costs “Cooperation in corridors is absolutely vital,” continued Rohde. “The combination of cargoes means lower demurrage and detention costs for our customers, in addition to which fewer containers will be transported by road, making this a more sustainable solution.” The Port Authorities in Amsterdam and Rotterdam are delighted with the new corridor. “We are happy to support projects that put the interests of the sector first,” said Rob Smit, Manager Hinterland Services at the Port of Amsterdam. “A smooth and fast Correct handling of inland container traffic is essential for the development of the Netherlands as the most efficient and reliable logistic hub in Europe.”

WAY S T O S E A

Ter Haak Group handles over 50% of the 600.000 ton of cocoa stored in Amsterdam

Spider in the Amsterdam cocoa web Various operating companies of the Ter Haak Group are involved in the Amsterdam cocoa chain: the USA terminal for the storage and transhipment of bulk and containers arriving by seagoing vessel and barge (BCA Intermodel for lighter barge transport of cocoa from Antwerp and Rotterdam) and CSA Container Service Amsterdam for the cleaning and repair of empty containers. And most recently, CTB Container Terminal Beverwijk.

For Richard ter Haak, it is perfectly normal for the smell of cocoa to pervade in every corner of his group management. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the nineteen sixties, we still used conventional ships carrying sacks and big bags; they were followed by containers and for a time we undertook the warehousing ourselves; but we divested ourselves of that business in 2002 in order to maintain total independence towards all our customers. With the disappearance of almost all the deep sea operators from Amsterdam, a great deal has changed, and not all of it for the best. Grimaldi is now the only shipping operator that still carries out a two-weekly shuttle run to our USA terminal between West Africa and Amsterdam, delivering containers in bulk as well as barge and semi-finished products.â&#x20AC;?

The departure of the deep sea operators, Antwerp has taken up much of the cocoa business, to the detriment of Amsterdam

Your Compass to Value-added Logistics Condensation “The biggest advantage offered by Grimaldi”, as USA director Paul Brink went on to explain, “is that after a transit time of around 10 days, the cocoa is immediately available for unloading by the storage warehousers. Cocoa that arrives for example via Antwerp has been in transit for at least 30 to 60 days, depending on the stopovers en route, such as Algeciras. And that is asking for quality problems. Cocoa that is loaded in the winter in West Africa at 30 degrees sometimes spends a full two weeks in freezing conditions in Antwerp, and that raises the spectre of condensation.” Semi-finished products are of course less susceptible, continued Ter Haak. “Although you can not afford to leave a container full of cocoa butter standing for two weeks in the hot summer sun in the outer port of Algeciras; or even in Antwerp, for that matter.”

350.000 tonnes Of the in total 600,000 tonnes of cocoa stored by the Amsterdam warehousers, around 350,000 tonnes arrive at the USA terminal.

As Brink explained, “Our terminal is laid out in such way that using our special software, we are able to process the containers as efficiently and as quickly as possible. Following removal from the seagoing vessel or barge, we store the containers customer by BL, and either forward them to the warehousers, or have them collect the containers. Empty containers are cleaned and if necessary repaired at CSA and then repositioned to Rotterdam and Antwerp, via BCA. On behalf of Grimaldi, BCA is responsible for the entire logistic process between Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, as well as working for other shipping operators such as CMA, Nile Dutch, MSC and Maersk.”

Developments One clear downside is that following the departure of the deep sea operators, Antwerp has taken up much of the cocoa business, to the detriment of Amsterdam. As a consequence, traditional Amsterdam cargoes that were forwarded to Berlin, Mannheim or Switzerland have also tailed off. Whereas in the past Antwerp was responsible for 20% of the cocoa business, it now handles 70% of the containers, and that benefits other cargoes, too. In Ter Haak’s words, “A tough situation, not easy to correct. But there are also favourable developments.” “Within the Port of Amsterdam, a great deal of cocoa activity has literally shifted in our direction from the Coentunnel area, with the addition of around 100,000 square metres of warehouse space, all around our premises,” explained Brink. “Quality requirements, sustainability and the demand for transparency for certain goods flows are also in our favour, since it makes sense to link our systems to those in the warehouse, in order to accelerate the transit process. Against the background of sustainability, we have invested in Kalmar reach stackers with a lower CO2 footprint, and are monitoring with interest the developments in electric forklift trucks and tractor units.” Ter Haak concluded, “In ten years’ time, it will be as if there was never any alternative to electric.”

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32 190603_Advertentie A4 HR v3.pdf 1

In March this year, HD Cotterell BV was taken over by three ambitious entrepreneurs, including director Oscar Brouwer. In his own words, ‘We are a truly traditional Dutch cocoa warehousing business. Our key qualities are the experience and knowledge of our people in particular when it comes to fine flavour/ specialty and certified – organic – cocoa beans. An absolute growth market.’

New board HD Cotterell at home in cocoa logistics ánd port services

Pure Dutch

WAY S T O S E A

O The ambition of the brandnew owners is to further expand Cotterell’s business. At present, the company operates a series of warehouses in the port of Amsterdam, including facilities approved for the cocoa futures market ICE

Oscar Brouwer (51) has a great deal to say about cocoa. The director of Cotterell Amsterdam has been involved in the cocoa business for more than twenty years. His career has seen him working at international trading houses and a warehousing business in Hamburg specialising in cocoa logistics and supply chain management, as well as spending years as a quality arbitrator at the FCC, the Federation of Cocoa Commerce, in London. Today, he is director of an Amsterdam-based warehousing company.

Dutch through and through “Although Cotterell was originally the Amsterdam branch of the Hamburg-based warehousing business belonging to the AngloGerman Cotterell family, it has been an independent operator for decades. Uniquely that makes us one of the few remaining thoroughly Dutch warehousekeepers in Amsterdam, the world’s largest port for cocoa.” Together with Geert Habers and Rolf Hulleman, Brouwer acquired Cotterell in March 2019. While Brouwer’s contribution is very much all about cocoa – he personally knows all the major players – Hulleman and Habers together run an agency for logistics and port services, HSU-Havenservice Urk. Although HSU is active in the cocoa sector in the port of Amsterdam, the company also operates in several other European cocoa ports. All in all, HSU is very much at home with the handling of cocoa beans and cocoa products; the ideal combination. Brouwer continued, “What it means is that via HSU, Cotterell will never be short of staff for its warehouses, and given the current labour market situation that is a huge advantage.”

In addition, certified organic beans are not permitted to undergo any sort of chemical treatment.” For Cotterell – where corporate social responsibility is a high priority – the best available techniques for pest control are either ensuring that the products are kept at a controlled temperature, or a CO2 chamber, that makes it possible to create a low oxygen regime. “Given our close involvement in the certified cocoa segment, and our aim to grow in that field, CO2 chambers are effectively a must. Our wish list also includes bulk warehouses, so that we are able to not only store cocoa beans in bags, but also in bulk.”

Market developments Cotterell’s ambitions tie in with developments on the cocoa market over the past few decades. The process of consolidation means that the market is now controlled by fewer but therefore larger players; as regards logistics, containerisation was introduced some three decades ago. Brouwer continued, “Above all in West Africa we are seeing involvement by major players right down the chain, as far as the individual farmers, combined with the local production of semi-finished goods. This increasing involvement is based on the attempts by groups of companies to take control of quality and to ensure sustainability throughout the chain. Sustainability is for example reflected in new agricultural techniques, in the conservative use of crop protection agents and artificial fertilisers, and in tackling exploitation, in general. Another obviously important aspect is raising the yield per hectare.”

The ambition of the brand-new owners is to further expand Cotterell’s business. At present, the company operates a series of warehouses in the port of Amsterdam, including facilities approved for the cocoa futures market ICE. Brouwer explained, “The first item on our wish list is controlled atmosphere facilities for guaranteed pest control. Pest control can be achieved using chemicals, but with an eye to sustainability, that particular method is coming under increasing pressure.

“It’s just like the wine cult,” continued Brouwer. “In the higher segment, the level of quality of the beans is so good that the normal quality requirements for conventional beans, such as percentage of mould, are obviously met. More important is the palette of smells and flavour. When it comes to these types of beans, the correlation between price and the futures market is far less apparent.”

employment opportunities created by nautical service providers such as port labour and inland shipping operators, the quality control agencies and other the service providers, such as banks and lawyers. All those parties must continue to work closely together in order to increase the added value generated by the port, to guarantee continued employment and to create a strong logistic cluster.”

Platform Over the past few decades, the process of consolidation has reduced the number of players on the cocoa market. In Brouwer’s words, “As a result, the chain has become increasingly interwoven. Of course there is price competition, but relationships are now much more along the lines of partnerships. The port of Amsterdam also has its own cocoa committee, of which all the cocoa warehousekeepers are members and which is extremely valuable when it comes to sharing knowledge and experience, without revealing any of our particular trade secrets.”

From left to right group management of HD Cotterell: Rolf Hulleman, Geert Habers and Oscar Brouwer

Threat from housing Lifestyle

Ambition

specialists in the handling and storage of fine flavor cocoa beans. And these developments are indeed reflected among our customers. On the one hand there are the grinders who turn beans into semi-finished products, while on the other hand, right across Europe and beyond, cocoa beans are increasingly being taken up by so-called bean to bar chocolate makers, who demand greater levels of control over the entire process, including traceability from the tree, and who are aiming to produce chocolate with more pronounced fruit, nut and other flavour notes.”

The growing focus on quality is also a key development. A sort of lifestyle hype has been created with regard to chocolate, based on the provenance of the beans, smell and flavour. Chocolate is no longer just a comfort food, but has also become a health food. These developments go hand in hand with certification and a veritable explosion in the palette of chocolate varieties and flavours. And that of course comes with a price ticket. As Brouwer explained, “These are interesting developments for Cotterell, since we have traditionally been

Although there are huge opportunities for Cotterell, there are also concerns. One major threat comes from developments in the port of Amsterdam with urban housing spreading ever further westward, while there is apparently little space for the port itself to shift accordingly. As Brouwer explained, “The port of Amsterdam generates huge added value for the city and indeed the region. Cocoa businesses in Amsterdam and the Zaanstad district must be able to continue expanding. In economic terms, the Amsterdam effect of cocoa is considerable, especially if you take into account the indirect

Trends Brouwer concluded, “The growth in fine flavour and specialities means that given the traceability requirements for cocoa beans, transport in bags is still very much standard practice. For the warehousekeepers, the requirements imposed by government on the cocoa warehouses in its latest cocoa storage work instructions have become far stricter, for example with calls for compartmentalisation in order to reduce fire risk. Any such developments of course come with a price ticket.”

WAY S T O S E A

Commodity Centre Netherlands opens new terminal

Experienced and ambitious THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY COUNTS ON US. 24/7 - DUTCH PILOTS -

Where the Ruigoordweg in Westpoort recently ended in a roundabout, the horizon is now dominated by the new terminal of Commodity Centre Netherlands BV (CCN). The Dutch branch of the British headquarters built 60,000 square meters in one go of which 50% is storage and office space. The accessibility of the new location is ideal, because the new building is located entirely along the North Sea Canal with a 185m quay between the Africa and America ports. Elsewhere in the port of Amsterdam, CCN still has storage facilities of 20.000 square meters.

Cocoa, coffee and metals With Bert Schalij at the helm, the Amsterdam terminal offers over 30 years of experience in the storage and transfer of commodities. The Dutch team under his leadership will soon have around 15 employees. One hundred and forty people are active at the headquarters in England and Belgium

respectively. In the port of Amsterdam the majority of the available square meters will be used for storage and forwarding cocoa. Following the example of England, metals and coffee will also be stored and forwarded in Amsterdam.

Supply chain management On a larger scale, CCN is a specialist in offering dedicated commodity storage, global forwarding and fourth party logistics (4PL). The company is therefore also a chain director who seeks the best solution for the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supply chain, from shipping and handling from customs to warehousing and onward distribution. As may be expected, CCNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Falcon named terminal meets the latest certification of fire safety.

WWW.LOODSWEZEN.NL 38

Bert Schalij, Managing Director Commodity Centre Netherlandsl

WAY S T O S E A

Cocoaveem adds two new terminals to it’s total (60.000 sqm)

Katoen Natie fulfils ambitions for growth in Amsterdam The building and renovation activities underway on the site of the Belgian Katoen Natie (KTN) are clear indicators of the company’s ambitions for growth, in Amsterdam. The 25,000 sqm cocoa warehouse for semi-finished and finished cocoa products was commissioned in the Amerikahaven in April of this year. In the Horn- en Westhaven, KTN will be opening a new covered bulk cocoa terminal, developed entirely by the company and providing 35,000 sqm of effective cocoa storage capacity, in the last quarter of 2019. Part of the warehouse in the Amerikahaven is equipped with the efficient very narrow aisle (VNA) racking, and an option for further expansion with value added services and value added logistics. The other warehouse offers 135,000 mt of storage capacity for cocoa beans, and is intended for mainstream flows and the compartmentalised storage of fine-flavour cocoa and the storage of bulk cocoa for the futures market. These units are intended for the Dutch and European grinding industry and the international cocoa trade.

Ideal location

Sander Wiegersma, Terminal Manager KTN Ams (l) en Eugène Bleekemolen, Directeur / Global Account Manager (r)

“The site on the Horn- en Westhaven is a location that offers deep-water docking facilities,” explained Eugene Bleekemolen, director of KTN Amsterdam and Global Account Manager for the Commodities Division. “That is what makes this warehouse the perfect location for the provision of services to customers who are dependent on water-

borne inbound and outbound flows; inbound via coasters carrying mega bulk cargoes, and outbound via inland shipping. It is also highly efficient for truck transport thanks to the close vicinity of the CTV container terminal, ideal for flexible short-distance movements for incoming and outgoing cargoes in containers.”

Birdview impression of the new KTN Terminal that will offer 135.000 mt of storage capacity for cocoa beans.

‘For decades, cocoa logistics has been a traditional business. Now is the time for change.’ Eugene Bleekemolen, director KTN Amsterdam

Time for change This new-building programme by KTN at the same time represents a real improvement in terms of sustainability. Solar panels will be mounted on the roof of the warehouses, and the decision has been taken to install LED lighting with zone sensors inside. At the same time, the office facilities with flexible workstations will upgrade harmonisation and interaction with the warehouse staff, in a move towards a paperless working environment. The company will also be optimising traceability by introducing what is known

FOR RENT

as separate storage, with possibilities for value added services and logistics handling of product batches of different qualities and from different origins, for the mainstream and niche flows. As Bleekemolen explained, “For decades, cocoa logistics has been a traditional business. Now is the time for change. We will be introducing innovations by combining past knowledge and experience

Katoen Natie Amsterdam emerged from the takeover of Unicontrol Commodity B.V. (2008) and Unieveem (2009). In one fell swoop, Katoen Natie Amsterdam became an important major European logistic service provider for the transhipment and storage of cocoa beans (both in sacks and in particular bulk cocoa cargoes) and cocoa products such as cocoa butter, cocoa paste, cocoa cake and cocoa powder. Over the past few years, the commodities division of KTN has expanded to become one of the world’s largest cocoa logistic service providers with a presence in cocoa-producing countries and in the most important ports of destination for cocoa. KTN provides logistic and end-to-end services for cocoa beans/semi-finished/finished products in and from West Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon) to Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Estonia) with further transit services wherever required by its customers.

with the latest technology and high-quality service. This will in turn be combined with the wishes of our customers. They are very much in favour of this upscaling of services and professionalisation, which they have standardised in their requirements and tenders.”

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The modern Westhaven building located on the Corsicaweg in Amsterdam offers unique office space in the Port of Amsterdam. This multi-tenant office building offers you the opportunity to rent a unit from 60 sqm to 3,400 sqm. The building has recently been renovated, both the exterior and entrance area of the six storey office building have had a facelift. Furthermore the climate installations have been renewed. Highways A10 and A5 are located within 5 minutes driving distance and the parking offers a ratio of 1:35 sqm, making this location perfectly accessible by car.

Visit www.boelensdegruyter.nl/aanbod for more information or call your contact person Wiëna van den Berg to schedule a visit on +31(0)20 630 65 30.

Position of Amsterdam For KTN and indeed for the entire cocoa sector, the port of Amsterdam is a key partner. We can see that the port of Amsterdam is investing and that is good for employment, for the position of the port and for all stakeholders in the cocoa sector. “It will certainly also further strengthen the position of Amsterdam as the world’s largest cocoa port,” suggested Bleekemolen. “At the same time, the port of Amsterdam and the various political players in the affected NL/EU government bodies will have to guarantee a true level playing field for the other European ports. That is and remains essential for all port-related and port-dependent businesses.”

www.boelensdegruyter.nl

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WAY S T O S E A

TOWAGE & SALVAGE

Vollers has growth ambitions in the port of Amsterdam

always going TOWAGE & for the perfect SALVAGE connection

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• Mooring, unmooring and shifting of sea-going vessels in the Amsterdam port area • Marine consultancy • Supplying of complementary deck crew • Boat rental with licensed skipper • Transport and storage of provisions - bonded stores spares - hazardous goods • Temperature controlled refrigeration and freezing storage facility • Customs services • Emergency response

Looking for the perfect connection. Contact us at: Iskes Towage & Salvage Monnickendamkade 19 D-E | 1976 EC Ĳmuiden | T: +31 (0) 255561900 | E: office@iskestugs.nl

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Call us 24 hours a day: +31 255 82 00 80

Mooring / Tender services in port area IJmuiden The Cooperative Association of Vletterlieden provides the transport of persons, packages and supplies to ships at the anchorage and to offshore wind farms. Besides communications (water taxi) the boatmen assist in mooring, unmooring and shifting of maritime-, river- and fishing boats in the port area of IJmuiden, Velsen and Beverwijk. We operate closely together with pilots, tugs and port authorities.

Full steam ahead With a bulk capacity of 250,000 tons, Vollers is rightfully an important player in the storage and handling of cocoa in the port of Amsterdam. The company still has growth ambitions in the area. Since the company was founded in Bremen in 1932, where Berthold Vollers started as an independent küper (coordinator) and warehouse manager of coffee, Vollers has shown a healthy European drive for expansion. In addition to Bremen and Hamburg, the group now has branches in Riga, Talinn, Moscow, Antwerp, Trieste (It.), Genoa, Rotterdam and Amsterdam (since 2003). Vollers also recently opened branches in the UK, in Bury St Andrews. The Voller group currently has a total of eleven locations in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, accounting for a total storage space of more than one million square meters. A total of 320 people are employed at the company. The four-member management consists of the descendants of the founder, Lüder and

Christiaan Vollers, with Dirk Hochmann and the Dutchman Matijs Brand next to them.

Direct lines On the Amsterdam Sardiniaweg in Westpoort there are direct lines from the terminals to the hinterland via road, rail, inland shipping and sea shipping. “Amsterdam remains a strategic beacon for us in the storage and handling of commodities within Europe,” said Eric Asselman, Location Manager at Vollers Holland. “To strengthen that position, we are currently looking at how and where we can increase our capacity in the port of Amsterdam.”

Vollers Holland BV Sardiniëweg 4 1044 AE Amsterdam

Monnickendamkade 19C www.towageamsterdam.com 1976 EC IJmuiden info@towageamsterdam.com

Email: cvv@vletterlieden.nl Tel 24/7: +31 (0)255 515354 Tel office: +31 (0)255 521796 www.vletterlieden.nl

Phone : +31 20 5874500 E-mail : amsterdam@vollers.com www.vollers.com

WAY S T O S E A

Companies in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area relying on cocoa

Chained to chocolate

Several companies in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area rely on the cocoa industry in the port of Amsterdam. Around 3,800 people find employment in the sector.

Logistics Cocoa transport (sea, river and road) 1

Spliethoff 2 TMA Logistics

3 Iverness

Storage and transfer 8 CWT 9 Ter Haak 10 Katoen Natie 11 Commodity Centre

Machinery for cocoa production

The Netherlands is the main importer of cocoa beans in Europe, reaching 991,000 tonnes in 2017 (valued at € 2.2 billion). Most of it is stored and transferred in terminals operated by CWT, CTVrede, C.Steinweg, Katoen Natie, CCN, Vollers, HD Cotterell and Ter Haak Group. The majority of the major grinding installations are based in the port of Amsterdam, owned by multinationals like Cargill, OLAM, ECOM and Dutch Cocoa. The cocoa-grinding industry in the Netherlands consume an estimated 565,000 tonnes of cocoa beans and continues to grow. The Netherlands has the world’s second-largest grinding activities after Ivory Coast.

Maintenance 23 Cofely 24 Stork

19 Duyvis Wiener

Netherlands 12 CTVrede 13 GAM Bakker 14 Vollers Holland 15 C.Steinweg-Handelsveem 16 HD Cotterell

Commodity trade 4 Cargill 5 Amtrada 6 Theobroma

Product development / R&D

Inspection 21 SGS 22 Bureau Veritas

Chocolate confectionery

Events

The chocolate confectionery sector in the Netherlands is very concentrated. A few large companies dominate the sector; Mars, Mondelez, Nestlé, Hershey and Ferrero.

25 Chocoa, Beurs van Berlage

4 Cargill 17 Dutch Cocoa 18 Olam Cocoa 7

Cocoa substitute production 7 Loders Croklaan

Production and production related businesses

Chocolate and other food related production

Advanced producer services

20 Koninklijke Verkade

26 AON

4 Cargill 17 Dutch Cocoa

18 Olam Cocoa

4 23

Beverwijk

Zaanstad

Retailers like Albert Heijn and Jumbo are important for mass products of big brands. Examples of specialised shops in the Netherlands are: Cacao De Bonte Koe, De Lelie Chocolaterie and Pierre Chocolát.

Food industry Cocoa products are also an important ingredient for the Dutch food industry. The Dutch food processing industry is valued at about €65 billion and employs about 135,000 people. The cocoa, chocolate and confectionary industry represents about 6% within the food industry in 2017. Companies producing biscuits, ice cream, pastries and other bakery products are some of the main users of cocoa products.

The price breakdown for chocolate illustrated Cocoa producers 6.6 %

Trade and transport 6.3 %

Processor or grinder 7.6 %

Manufacturer 32.2 %

Retailer

Cosmetics industry The sales of cosmetics in the Netherlands grew strongly since 2016. More and more Dutch consumers are interested in cosmetics with natural ingredients. The cosmetics industry processes cocoa butter in products such as creams and soaps.

42.2 %

Source: CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Zevenaar

16 22

1 15

2 14

9 10

IJmuiden 46

25 26

17 6

Amsterdam

Utrecht 24

AUG 2019 ISSUE #2

Ways To Sea Cocoa Special

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