El Castillo del Cacao
1 year later
Logo El castillo del cacao
The chocolate factory "El Castillo del Cacao" managed to develop quality chocolate during the last year. It has great succes on the local market.
In June 2006 the products were legalized, so the chocolate can be sold to supermarkets throughout Nicaragua.
Visit www.elcastillodelcacao.com, it'll bring water to your mouth!
| Country | Nicaragua |
|---|---|
| Total investment | €37,500 |
| Turnover | €8,350 (almost break-even, but new investment pending) |
| Direct employment | 6 people (5 kitchen worker, 1 administrator) |
| Indirect employment | 6 persons (3 construction workers — temporarily; 3 jobs for among others cacao peeling) |
| Contribution to Millennium Goals | 1) Education and gender equality - newly employed people, of which more than 60% are women, are trained to work relatively independent from day to day management. All employees have received medical checks. 2) Environment — we buy from Organic Cacao producers and our entire cacao stock is now 100% certified. Awareness of farmers regarding importance of organic cacao has increased. 3) CdC has shown the potential in Nicaragua for other small scale initiatives as cited in diverse articles and news programs. Creation of interest in the cacao sector by others: as ngos and private sector increasingly asking us for information and profesional expertise. |
Achievements
- Legalization of our chocolate products was delayed in June 2006 due to a 6 months strike at the Ministry of Health. During this time sales were limited to the region of Matagalpa. But now, the chocolate of El Castillo can be officially sold in the whole of Nicaragua and throughout Central America.
- Established strong contacts with cacao producers
- New business partner; will invest $15,000 and 2 years of work
- The chocolates have a lot of success on the local market.
There is a growing interest in our product in Europe: with direct intered shown from the netherlands, sweden and spain
Challenges
El Castillo has to deal with an economic environment that is difficult for small enterprise development. Tax systems are very complicated and unfriendly to small business. Many ingredients and other essetnial items are not available, e.g. packing material. Another example is the 6 months strike at ministry of Health, which delayed the legalization of the products in such a way that it could be ruinous for the business. Current power cuts of 4-8 hours a day are effecting production for all industries
Additional capital is needed to stream line the production of the chocolate. Although a production line is in place, vast improvements can an dneed to be made if we wish to expand throughout the region or prepare ourselves for international export.
Plans for 2007
- Expansion of production (increase this year’s production fivefold)
- Streamline the production (2 interns from Delft university will join us to improve production processes)
- Media attention and networking: Media is visiting El Castillo regularly, in october broadcaster LLINK will come to shoot for a 50 minute programme about El Castillo del Cacao and the Dutch world service will make a radio programe.
- In October 2006, El Castillo del Cacao has been invited to attend the "Slow food festival" in Turino, Italy (a counter balance to fast food). Two members of CdC have received tickets to the event.
- CdC will prepare a business plan for a $1.5 million in a full chocolate production facility.
Harm and his employees tasting chocolate
Chocolate products El castillo del cacao
