Nestlé bets on Sabah, Sarawak to boost local cocoa farming
KOTA KINABALU (May 26): Nestlé Malaysia is looking to Sabah and Sarawak as key regions to revive the once-thriving Malaysian cocoa industry, with a bold plan to source at least 30 per cent of its cocoa needs locally by 2026.
Nestlé Malaysia's Chief Executive Officer Juan Aranols who was met at the Malaysia International Cocoa Exhibition here today, described the company's growing investment in sustainable cocoa farming as a long-term commitment to rebuilding local supply chains and supporting smallholder farmers in East Malaysia.
'Malaysia was a big player in the cocoa industry 20 to 30 years ago. There is a big opportunity to regenerate that. At Nestlé, we are very committed,' he said.
Aranols revealed that Nestlé has been working closely with the Malaysian Cocoa Board to promote sustainable agricultural practices and reintroduce cocoa farming to new generations of farmers, especially in rural Sabah and Sarawak.
'We want to grow about 30 per cent of our cocoa needs and have them supplied locally, especially with beans grown in Sabah and Sarawak,' he said.
'We're creating and sharing good practices, educating on sustainable farming, and adopting methods that will make cocoa farming a promising opportunity for Malaysian farmers and all the players along the supply chain,' he said.
As part of this commitment, Nestlé has established the Nestlé Cocoa Club, which aims to engage at least 600 farmers by 2026. The initiative will include training, support for sustainable farming practices, and a guaranteed market for their produce.
'With all this, we really see that in the horizon, we can fulfil this ambition of growing at least 10,000 tonnes of cocoa to meet our needs for products made in Malaysia,' Aranols said.
Currently, Malaysia plays a significant role in the global cocoa processing industry, with several major international companies operating cocoa grinding facilities in the country. However, most cocoa beans are still imported from other regions.
'Malaysia is a big producer of semi-finished cocoa products, but very little of that cocoa is actually grown here. This is a chance to change that and create a more sustainable, self-reliant system,' he pointed out.
Aranols also supported the government's efforts to diversify crop production and improve food security in Malaysia, as highlighted by Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
'This is a big opportunity to diversify the crops that are grown in Malaysia, to improve the livelihoods of farmers, and to increase food security. We look forward to that happening and we will do our part,' he said.
Aranols also unveiled KitKat Dark Borneo ice cream, a new product that showcases cocoa beans sourced entirely from Malaysian soil. It is also available as a chocolate bar and the products are part of Nestlé's effort to highlight the unique potential of Malaysian-grown cocoa.
'These are amazing Nestlé products, both KitKat dark chocolate ice cream and KitKat bars that Malaysians know and love. What's special is that instead of using cocoa beans imported from other parts of the world, all the cocoa used in these products comes from beans grown and farmed right here in Malaysia,' he said.
The response from consumers has been overwhelmingly positive, with Aranols calling it 'one of the best-tasting KitKat products worldwide.'
'We're getting lots of requests for exports, but we don't have enough cocoa beans yet. That's why we want more locally grown cocoa to make more KitKat Dark Borneo, both in chocolate and ice cream,' he added.
With local farmers, government agencies and industry players working together, Aranols believes that Malaysia's cocoa industry is poised for a strong comeback.
'We're here for the long run, this isn't just about making chocolate, it's about building something meaningful with Sabahans and Sarawakians,' he said.
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