Kumasi Drinks launches locally produced cacao juice in Ivory Coast
Kumasi Drinks ventures into Ivory Coast with a locally produced cacao juice made from 100% natural cacao pulp.
IVORY COAST – Beverage manufacturer Kumasi Drinks, in partnership with juice producer Atou Ivorio, has entered the Ivorian market with the launch of a locally produced cacao juice.
The collaboration focuses on producing and selling cacao juice at source in Côte d’Ivoire, using locally harvested cacao pulp.
According to Kumasi Drinks, the new beverage is a 100% natural drink crafted from premium Ivorian cacao pulp, with zero added sugar, flavourings, or preservatives.
The launch is positioned as a celebration of Ivorian heritage and innovation, while supporting farmers across the cacao value chain.
In a statement, the company said: “At Kumasi, our ambition has always been to create value where cacao grows. That means not only processing locally, but also selling and consuming at the source—keeping value, jobs, and pride in cacao-producing countries.”
Kumasi was founded in 2021 after journalist Lars Gierveld, while filming a documentary for RTL/Videoland, observed that West African farmers struggled to earn sustainable incomes from selling cacao beans alone.
He later experimented with fresh cacao pulp juice, which is often discarded, and co-founded Kumasi with Rogiér Power and Linda Klunder, introducing the drink to European consumers.
In August 2025, Kumasi and the Chocolonely Foundation, alongside ETG/Beyond Beans, opened a factory in Ivory Coast to process cacao juice at scale. The company aims to connect 5,000 farmers to its network, with 800 already prepared to participate.
In 2026, production is expected to reach 300,000 litres, rising from 30,000 litres today, before expanding to a base capacity of 800,000 litres, reinforcing local processing, employment, and value retention in cacao-growing communities nationwide across Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural economy.
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