Cocoa Logistics Case Study: Bespoke Bulk Cocoa Storage Terminal for Ofi
Working closely with global food and agri-business ofi, Commodity Centre designed and constructed a bespoke quayside terminal in Amsterdam for bulk cocoa storage and logistics. The specialist facility was designed to preserve cocoa bean quality, enable precise quality segregation and improve supply chain efficiency, while operating entirely on green energy.
Our Customer
ofi is a global leader in food and agri-business, supplying ingredients, feed and fibre to thousands of customers worldwide, from iconic global brands to small, family-run businesses. Their operations span the entire supply chain, from field to plate.
The Opportunity
Having worked with ofi for over 25 years, there was already an excellent understanding between the two businesses. Our shared drive to improve quality and innovate using new technologies, coupled with a focus on sustainability and data analytics, aligned perfectly with ofi’s goals.
Building on this long-term relationship, we collaborated to develop an ultra-modern terminal designed to deliver outstanding efficiency, quality preservation and environmental performance.
Our Solution
Commodity Centre’s senior team brings over 100 years of combined experience in cocoa handling, providing specialist knowledge of bulk cocoa storage, handling, quality preservation and supply chain logistics.
Starting with a blank sheet of paper, Commodity Centre developed a new approach to bulk cocoa storage and handling, combining specialist sector knowledge, warehouse technology and innovative automation. By combining all of our knowledge and using innovation to solve problems, we delivered a industry-leading bulk cocoa storage solution.
ofi's brief was threefold: cost efficiency, sustainability and quality. We applied our knowledge and proprietary warehouse management system to meet their expectations, resulting in:
Specialist cocoa storage and handling
- A new bespoke terminal, fitted out to the highest quality requirements
- Bulk product handled using centrally controlled belts, powered by green energy
- Better maintenance of bean quality by minimising handling operations, ensuring fewer breakages and reduced flavour loss
- Higher throughput of cargo and better warehouse utilisation, owing to smaller stock segregation and separation of qualities
Technology, traceability and data
- Automated container weighing processes
- Maximum traceability of bulk down to the granular container level
- Cutting-edge data analytics used to manage complex algorithms for stock allocation and handling
- Frictionless access to granular, live data analytics and business intelligence
Port-centric logistics
- Gated-access site adjacent to the largest container terminal in the port
- Significant reduction in logistics costs owing to the terminal’s strategic location
Sustainability and supply chain resilience
- Significant reduction in carbon footprint through reduced transport and sole usage of green energy
- Long-term supply chain stability
The Results
- Reduced logistics costs through its strategic quayside location
- Higher throughput capacity and improved warehouse utilisation
- Improved cocoa quality preservation through reduced handling and fewer breakages
- End-to-end traceability through granular stock tracking and data analytics
- Lower carbon emissions through reduced transport and 100% green-energy operation
- Greater supply chain resilience supporting Ofi’s long-term requirements
Impact
Today, the terminal supports higher throughput, enhanced traceability and consistently preserved cocoa bean quality, all while achieving measurable cost savings and environmental gains. The result is a future-focused terminal aligned with ofi’s strategic goals and Commodity Centre’s industry-leading logistics solutions.
The project demonstrates Commodity Centre’s expertise in designing and operating specialist bulk cocoa storage and logistics solutions, combining deep cocoa-handling knowledge with port-centric infrastructure, warehouse technology, traceability and sustainable operations.
