In the Tshela territory of Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the cocoa industry is experiencing a new dynamic. Mole Groupe, a company operating in the region, has been working to establish a supply chain to better organize local production and connect producers to international markets. The company's strategy focuses on controlling the upstream segment, with 99% of the cocoa it purchases in the DRC coming directly from its cooperative network.
The company's Nganda-Tsundi site is a key part of this strategy, where it organizes various stages of the cocoa value chain, from procurement to preparation of beans for commercialization. The site has a capacity to produce 3,500 tonnes of cocoa beans per year. According to Mole Groupe, its network currently comprises over 2,000 producers gathered in a cooperative. This development gives a new dimension to the company's ambitions in the cocoa sector.
Mole Groupe's strategy relies on mastering the upstream segment, reducing the number of intermediaries, and maintaining visibility on the origin of beans and production conditions. This approach is crucial in the international market, where buyers increasingly demand information on the origin of agricultural raw materials. The company's focus on traceability and quality control enables it to meet these requirements.
To ensure the quality of its cocoa, Mole Groupe has developed a facility at Nganda-Tsundi dedicated to fermentation, drying, and quality control. The company emphasizes improving fermentation methods, drying beans, and training local producers to enhance the regularity of quality. According to Gandi Mole, the company's General Director, "Acheter du cacao est une chose. Être capable de construire un approvisionnement régulier, d’assurer la qualité des fèves et de répondre aux exigences d’un client international en est une autre."
The Kongo Central region has a history and potential for cocoa production, but it is often overshadowed by the eastern provinces of the DRC. Mole Groupe sees an opportunity to develop the region's cocoa sector and make it a more visible origin in the international market. The company aims to create a platform to group increasing volumes of cocoa for export.
Mole Groupe is also developing its international trading activities to connect its Congolese supply chain to international buyers. The company has established a new commercial relationship with Olam in the cocoa sector, which is now one of its clients. This partnership requires Mole Groupe to meet international standards for quality, volume, and logistics.
Mole Groupe's ambition is to become a leading player in the cocoa sector in Kongo Central. The company aims to achieve this through progressive growth in volumes, expansion of its producer network, quality of beans, and multiplication of international outlets. According to Gandi Mole, "Notre ambition est de devenir une référence du cacao dans le Kongo Central. Mais un leadership ne se proclame pas : il se construit sur le terrain."
Key points
- Mole Groupe has a network of over 2,000 producers and a capacity to produce 3,500 tonnes of cocoa beans per year.
- The company focuses on controlling the upstream segment and maintaining visibility on the origin of beans and production conditions.
- Mole Groupe aims to become a leading player in the cocoa sector in Kongo Central through progressive growth and expansion of its producer network.
