SCHOKINAG is a leading industrial chocolatier backed by more than a century’s worth of expertise. Following the implementation of a new global strategy, the company is witnessing rapid expansion. Managing Director Judith Laudenklos explained more, in an exclusive interview with Inside Food & Drink. Report by Imogen Ward.
Over the last few years, Germanbased SCHOKINAG has been focused on the implementation of a new global strategy designed to stoke innovation and market development.
“Our global strategy encourages company-wide growth,” said Managing Director Judith Laudenklos. “It has enabled us to introduce a new gourmet line. Our parent, Guan Chong Berhad, has also recently opened a new cocoa processing plant in Ivory Coast, allowing us to get products directly from the source.”
As a top-tier chocolatier, SCHOKINAG has maintained a strong presence in the European market since its establishment in 1923. Having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, the company made sure to show its appreciation for employees and customers alike.
“We took our employees on a delightful trip along the Rhine River,” Ms Laudenklos explained. “There was good food, good music and lots of dancing. We also organised a special present for our customers, which included traditional chocolates and our brand-new salted caramel selection.”
Solidifying success
Last year, in line with its global strategy, SCHOKINAG released a new solid line. Available in bag sizes from 5kg to 800kg, the new machinery has expanded SCHOKINAG’s capabilities considerably.
“The new line has increased the capacity of our packaging options and has enabled us to take on more work in-house compared to previous years,” said Ms Laudenklos. “This has been great for business.”
Following the success of this investment, the company decided to extend its capacity once again, this time
tar geting its white chocolate line. Having previously invested in the modernisation of its white chocolate production in 2019, SCHOKINAG decided it would be beneficial to extend once more (boasting an increased capacity of 90,000 tonnes per year).
“We have been working with white chocolate for many years, and it was the right time to reinvest in this area of the business,” Ms Laudenklos continued. “The initial investment occurred in 2023, and that line has been up and running since the beginning of this year.
“When there are hard times, people find solace in chocolate, and the small joy it brings. That is why I enjoy working in the market”
“Reinvestment is always on the cards for us because it helps to secure the future of our production capacities to guarantee the efficiency and reliability of our production processes.”
Sourcing sustainably
When it comes to chocolate farming, many major chocolatiers fail to implement ethical practices and equality for those farming the cocoa. SCHOKINAG, however, operates with key guiding principles which are inspired by laws on equality and safety. The company also relies heavily on suppliers who maintain the strictest environmental and social awareness.
“Now, more than ever, our customers are in search of sustainably sourced products,” Ms Laudenklos explained. “We comply with all the environmental requirements, and we expect our suppliers to do the same. We are a member of Sedex as well.”
SCHOKINAG is also a member of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa, which leads programmes focused on promoting sustainable cocoa and improving the livelihood of cocoa farmers.
“We try to promote Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance as much as we can, and we actively participate in the work of the German Initiative on Sustainable
Cocoa,” Ms Laudenklos added. “We also have our own programme, which we are running in collaboration with our parent company. ‘Good Cocoa & Beyond’ was set up to improve farmer income, help protect the environment and ensure traceability of our cocoa.”
Through the programme, SCHOKINAG helps to address socio-economic challenges for cocoa farmers and has been successfully doing so since the programme was established back in 2020.
For the future
As it sets its sights on the future, SCHOKINAG is determined to maintain its sense of identity. According to Ms Laudenklos, this determination, alongside the company’s ability to work closely with its customers, remains an important priority.
“We love working alongside our customers and offering a service that is highly
flexible,” said Ms Laudenklos. “We are determined to continue doing so as we head into the future. We also intend to continue offering the highest quality products and services to our customers. That is very important to us. Of course, we will also continue to monitor our raw materials, especially the cocoa, to maintain full transparency for our customers. This will also help keep them informed regarding market developments and changes.”
Although the company is in a strong position as it continues its mission for improved transparency within the cocoa market, there are still challenges ahead.
“The cocoa market itself is a challenge, ” Ms Laudenklos explained. “It is very much driven by speculators, and the price of cocoa continues to rise. That is without even considering the cocoa shortages that the industry is experiencing. This is the third year in a row
that the market is in deficit, and the shortfall is only increasing.
“We are also experiencing other issues outside of our control, such as energy price hikes and climate change. These alone are extremely concerning. The real question is, how long will these problems remain? We are yet to see the end of it, and of course, when it comes to sustainability, a primary concern currently revolves around the EU deforestation law, which fails to consider the right to self-determination of producing countries, while imposing an immense administrative effort, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done.”
“The future of the market is hard to predict. Just last February, it reached its
highest peaks, and there was industrywide panic: processors stopped offering cocoa semi-finished products, and customers didn’t know what to do.
There is huge uncertainty in the industry, so times remain tough.”
Despite the rocky market conditions, Ms Laudenklos still believes in the power of chocolate: “It is a source of happiness for all, and it continues to be enjoyed by millions of people. When there are hard times, people find solace in chocolate, and the small joy it brings. That is why I enjoy working in the market.
“Over the years, I have worked in companies of different shapes and sizes, and as a medium-sized business, SCHOKINAG is a great company to work for.” n
