Organic and fair-trade ingredients supplier PRONATEC started operations at its new 100% organic cocoa processing plant in Beringen, Switzerland in May. The facility, the first of its kind in Switzerland, produces organic cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder.

The facility will process 15,000 tn/yr of cocoa beans acquired from small shareholder cooperatives.

“More and more consumers are not only looking for sustainable products but wanting to know exactly where the ingredients came from,” David Yersin, chief executive officer of PRONATEC said in a release. “This production plant is our response to that trend.”

Each semi-finished cocoa product made at the Beringen location will be traceable back to the shareholder cooperative that grew the cocoa beans. The plant will process each batch of semi-finished cocoa products and handle each consignment of beans separately, enabling the operation to meet the strict criteria for fair trade and organic certification.

“Demand from the market is confirming the trend toward stricter labels such as Bio Suisse and Demeter. Our products help to meet that need,” said Yersin.

The plant is in the process of securing FSSC 22000 certification. PRONATEC will also process cocoa beans at the facility under contract.