Kumasi Drinks

𝐃𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 (ENGLISH BELOW) Tony's Chocolonely (via The Chocolonely Foundation) en Kumasi Drinks bundelen, samen met ETG / Beyond Beans Foundation, hun krachten om de eerste fabriek in Ivoorkust te openen die cacaovruchtensap op grote schaal verwerkt. De afgelopen twee jaar zochten we geschikte bouwgrond, bestelden we machines, betrokken we boeren, zetten we een betaalsysteem op, testten we perstechnieken, ontworpen we de logistiek en deden nog een eindeloze lijst met andere dingen. Het was, is en blijft een hobbelige weg, maar het is de moeite waard. Deze grote stap betekent dat Kumasi nu niet alleen meer cacaofruitsap onder eigen merk zal verkopen, maar ook aan andere merken gaat leveren. Want hoe meer cacaofruitsap gebruikt wordt, hoe meer boeren extra inkomsten verdienen. In de afgelopen jaren hebben we een breed scala aan geschikte toepassingen ontwikkeld: frisdranken, chocoladevullingen, zuivelproducten, ijs, cocktails, wijn, bier en meer. Vanaf september van dit jaar zal de fabriek de eerst 30.000 liter leveren aan een grote lokale afnemer. Volgend jaar groeit de productie naar 300.000 liter voor de wereldmarkt. Neem gerust contact op voor mogelijkheden en samenwerkingen. 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬. --- 𝗔 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆! Tony's Chocolonely (via The Chocolonely Foundation) and Kumasi Drinks, together with ETG / Beyond Beans Foundation, are joining forces to open the first factory in Ivory Coast to process cocoa fruit juice on a large scale. The past two years we looked for a suitable building plot, ordered machinery, involved farmers, set-up a payment system, tested pressing techniques,  built logistics and an endless list of other things.  It has been, it is, and it will be a bumpy road, but it’s worth it This big step means that Kumasi will not solely sell cacao fruit juice under its own brand (but of course we’ll keep doing that), but now will also supply to other brands. Because the more cocoa fruit juice is used, the more farmers earn extra income. During the past years we have developed a wide range of suitable applications: soft drinks, chocolate fillings, dairy, ice cream, cocktails, wine, beer, and more Starting in September of this year, the facility will deliver the first 30,000 liters to its first major local buyer. Next year, production will grow to 300,000 liters, for the global market. Please feel welcome to reach out for possibilities and collabs. 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬. IDH, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) #impact #cacaofruit

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝟮𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 #𝗰𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 (𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁? The white, fruity pulp around the beans is normally discarded. It doesn’t taste like #chocolate, but has a tropical, refreshing flavour (think lychee, mango, or wild peach). Pressing juice from it not only reduces #foodwaste, it also improves bean quality and creates a unique, #upcycled ingredient. At the same time, around 80% of cacaofarmers live far below a #livingincome. Most West-African cacaofarmers earn less than $1 a day, and for women, sometimes as little as $0.30 (UNDP, Feb 2025). As consumers, we rarely see this side of the chain, we’re focused on the price of our chocolate bars, not the cost to those who produce them. This is why the work of Kumasi Drinks and Beyond Beans Foundation inspires me so much. In 2020, Kumasi Drinks saw potential in this forgotten fruit and started turning cacaofruit into a refreshing, #sustainable drink. By doing so improving the income of cacaofarmers with up to 30%. Now, they’re taking it further. Together with Beyond Beans Foundation, they’re building a completely #circular impact facility in Ivory Coast, to upcycle the entire cacaopod. The goal? To bring cacaofruit (juice) to the #B2B market and inspire more companies to see the potential of this delicious, upcycled fruit, because the more it's used, the more farmers can benefit. 💬 As part of my internship, I’m researching the market potential of cacaofruit juice in the European B2B food & beverage industry. I’m especially looking at segments like frozen desserts, juice, dairy, and alcoholic beverages. I’m currently looking for: → People working in R&D, innovation or purchasing within those segments → People working with upcycled ingredients → Anyone who sees the potential of this fruit and wants to help change the system This project is close to my heart, not just as an International Food and Agribusiness student, but as someone who once did a 'spreekbeurt' (school presentation) at age 10 about child labour in cocoa, inspired by the #MDG's. And now, 13 years later, still sees how broken the chain is. We ALL need to rethink how we produce and consume food. Let’s build a fairer and more sustainable #FutureFoodSystem. 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Kumasi Drinks in Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire. 🩷 We’re building a cacao pulp facility right where the fruit grows — in Daloa. Everyone here knows cacao, of course. But a soft drink made from the pulp? That’s new. Sharing a cold Kumasi with Ivorians always sparks great convos. They love it — but almost always ask: “Can we get one without water added?” Why? Because they’re used to the real deal: straight from the pod, Brix 16, super sweet and full of body. What’s cool: the flavour preferences are totally different from back home. In Northern Europe, people lean into light and refreshing. In Côte d’Ivoire, it’s all about bold, rich, naturally sweet.

“How does your solution contribute to systems change?” It’s a question we often get—and the answer is simple. At Kumasi, we want to be known as the business that proves upcycling waste streams can benefit both the world and the people who grow our food. Roughly 30% of all food produced globally is wasted—and up to 20% of that never even leaves the farm. But even those numbers understate the problem. They don’t include the countless edible and non-edible side streams—like cocoa pulp or husk—that are never counted as food in the first place. In traditional supply chains, these byproducts are ignored. Farmers miss out on income. Nutrients are lost. And the planet pays the price. Not just new products, but a new logic—one that reimagines waste as opportunity and repositions value at farm level. According to systems change theory, transformation happens when we shift not only outcomes, but also the structures and assumptions beneath them. That’s the kind of change we’re working toward—economic, environmental, and deeply systemic.

Impact-vrienden! We staan donderdag 3 april tm zaterdag 5 april op de Impact Fair in de Jaarbeurs (Utrecht). Kom onze oude vertrouwde en onze nieuwe drankjes van cacaofruit proeven! Wissel je ideeën met ons uit én....... Doe mee aan de Grote Kumasi Cacao Quizz... Elke dag van 14u tot 14.15u bij onze stand (nr 215). Wees op tijd, want de dagwinnaar krijgt een prijs waar je stijl van achterover slaat! ------- Impact friends! We will be at the Impact Fair in the Jaarbeurs (Utrecht) from Thursday 3 April to Saturday 5 April. Come and taste our old familiar and our new cocoa fruit drinks! Exchange your ideas with us and....... Participate in the Great Kumasi Cocoa Quizz... Every day from 2 pm to 2.15 pm at our stand (no. 215). Be on time, because the winner of the day will receive a prize that will knock you off your feet!

🚀 Appel à tous les jeunes entrepreneurs ivoiriens ! 🌱🇨🇮🇳🇱 Ambassade du Royaume des Pays-Bas en Côte d'Ivoire a officiellement lancé le PNIA - Prix Néerlandais pour l'Innovation Agricole, une initiative qui récompense les jeunes agripreneurs innovants dans les filières cacao, noix de cajou et maraîchage. 🌍 Vous êtes un entrepreneur passionné par l’agriculture et vous avez une idée ou un projet innovant ? C’est votre chance de briller, d’accélérer votre activité et de bénéficier d’un accompagnement unique ! 💡 Ne manquez pas cette opportunité ! Postulez dès maintenant et faites partie des pionniers qui transforment l’agriculture ivoirienne. 🧃La dotation du prix est de 40 millions de FCFA pour 3 entreprises. 🔗PNIA - Prix Néerlandais pour l'Innovation Agricole - 📸 Ambassade du Royaume des Pays-Bas en Côte d'Ivoire Matthijs van Eeuwen #InnovationAgricole #Agripreneurs #EntrepreneuriatJeune #PNIA #CôteDIvoire

Cacao-Friends!! We are going to taste some unique Chocolate bars on Chocoa!! Join us on February 5th from 12:30 to 13:30 at the Chocoa Festival in Amsterdam for an exclusive tasting of cocoa beans and chocolate, showcasing a revolutionary fermentation process. These beans, from a collaborative project by Kumasi Drinks, ETG KIEM/SIA, Hanze Hogeschool, Stenden Hogeschool, Cacao Museum and Rok-it Science in Côte d’Ivoire, are first pressed to enhance fermentation, resulting in superior quality and unique flavor. This innovation not only elevates the taste but also creates a significant social impact. Farmers in Côte d’Ivoire benefit from an additional income stream by selling the juice for Kumasi Drinks and improving the quality of their beans. We invite cocoa experts to join us, taste the results, and engage in discussions on how we can further this important work together. Your insights and expertise are crucial to advancing our sustainable cocoa practices.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗷𝗮𝗻! 🌱🥤 Big changes are on the horizon as I prepare to return to the Netherlands to continue Kumasi Drinks mission from there. While I’m excited for this next chapter, leaving Côte d’Ivoire is bittersweet—this beautiful country has brightened my life in countless ways. But with change comes opportunity! With our partner Beyond Beans Foundation we are on the hunt for a 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗲. This is no ordinary job—it’s a chance to make a tangible impact in the cocoa sector by leading local operations, working with farmers, and driving sustainable innovations. ✅ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿: 🌿 Proven experience in sustainable agriculture, supply chain management and business development or a related field. 🌟 Strong project management skills and business acumen. 🌍 Adaptability to thrive in a diverse, cross-functional environment—one day you’re overseeing construction, the next day identifying new business opportunities. 🗣 Fluency in French and English (bonus points for experience in Côte d’Ivoire!). 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙥? You can send your CV to [email protected] or contact Bronwyn Kruger directly. If you have questions - DM me! - À 𝗹𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗱’𝘂𝗻(𝗲) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝘂 𝗝𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 à 𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗷𝗮𝗻 ! 🌱🥤 De grands changements se profilent à l’horizon alors que je me prépare à retourner aux Pays-Bas pour continuer la mission de Kumasi Drinks depuis là-bas. Bien que ce nouveau chapitre soit excitant, quitter la Côte d’Ivoire est un moment empreint d’émotions – ce magnifique pays a illuminé ma vie de bien des façons. Mais avec le changement vient l’opportunité ! Avec notre partenaire Beyond Beans Foundation, nous sommes à la recherche d’un(e) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝘂 𝗝𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲! Ce n’est pas un poste ordinaire – c’est une chance de faire un impact concret dans le secteur du cacao, en dirigeant les opérations locales, en collaborant avec les producteurs et en impulsant des innovations durables. ✅ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵é : 🌿 Expérience avérée en agriculture durable, gestion de la chaîne d’approvisionnement ou un domaine similaire. 🌟 Solides compétences en gestion de projet et sens des affaires. 🌍 Adaptabilité pour exceller dans un environnement diversifié et multifonctionnel – un jour sur un chantier, le lendemain à identifier de nouvelles opportunités commerciales. 🗣 Maîtrise du français et de l’anglais (une expérience en Côte d’Ivoire serait un véritable atout !). 𝗣𝗿ê𝘁(𝗲) à 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲 𝗱é𝗳𝗶 ? Envoyez votre CV à [email protected] ou contactez directement Bronwyn Kruger. Si vous avez des questions, envoyez-moi un message ! #Sustainability #CocoaIndustry #ImpactJobs #AbidjanJobs #JobOpportunity #CircularEconomy #AgriBusiness #SustainableAgriculture #Businessdevelopment #SocialImpact

Kumasi ligt vanaf deze week ook in de PLUS Retail! Dat wilden we even mooi aankondigen en we kregen hulp uit onverwachte hoek! We zijn erg blij met deze samenwerking, want de logica blijft simpel: Hoe meer blikjes er verkocht worden, hoe meer boeren mee kunnen doen en extra inkomsten verdienen.