Production of cocoa mass, cocoa powder, cocoa butter and chocolate semi-finished products for the food industry
Fuchs & Hoffmann Kakaoprodukte GmbH
Bexbach (Headquarters, In der Kolling 140) · Bexbach (Plant II, former GE-Alstom site)New on Amplifa
About Fuchs & Hoffmann
Fuchs & Hoffmann Kakaoprodukte GmbH, based in Bexbach (Saarland), is a German manufacturer founded in 1951 of cocoa and chocolate semi-finished products for industrial further processing. The company processes cocoa beans into cocoa mass (cocoa liquor), cocoa powder, cocoa butter, cocoa nibs as well as liquid chocolate and couverture in milk, dark and white varieties. Roasting is carried out using two processes in two factories; at the headquarters there are three production lines for cocoa mass, and at the second site commissioned in 2019 on the former GE-Alstom site, cocoa powder and cocoa butter are produced. According to Wikipedia, in 2011 the company processed around 38,000 t of cocoa beans into approximately 28,000 t of cocoa mass and approximately 10,000 t of liquid chocolate per year. Customers include Mars, Ritter Sport and Ludwig Schokolade, which belongs to the same group. Since 2010, Fuchs & Hoffmann has been part of the family-owned KRÜGER GROUP from Bergisch Gladbach; delivery in organic quality is also possible.
- Site
- Bexbach
- Processes
- Roasting of cocoa beans (two processes in two factories), Production of cocoa mass (cocoa liquor), 3 production lines, Production of cocoa powder and cocoa butter (second production site), Production of chocolate/couverture (milk, dark and white chocolate) and liquid, Laboratory testing and sensory controls of the production process, Processing of cocoa into semi-finished products, Roasting of cocoa using two methods in two factories, Storage capacity for liquid cocoa and chocolate semi-finished products
- Materials
- Cocoa beans, Cocoa mass, Cocoa powder, Cocoa butter, Cocoa nibs, Chocolate/couverture (milk, dark, white), Cocoa mass (cocoa liquor), Chocolate/Couverture
- Certificates
- Certified standards (specific standard not stated)
- Founded
- 1951
- Employees
- 77
- Industries
- Food industry, Confectionery industry, Chocolate industry
- 01
Raw material selection (cocoa beans from selected growing regions)
- 02
Roasting using two processes in two factories
- 03
Grinding into cocoa mass (cocoa liquor)
- 04
Pressing into cocoa powder and cocoa butter
- 05
Production of liquid chocolate semi-finished products/couverture
- 06
Laboratory testing and sensory controls
- 07
Storage of liquid semi-finished products
- 08
Delivery to the food industry
Raw Materials and Processes
Cocoa beans
Raw material from selected growing regions, starting material for roasting and grinding.
Cocoa mass (cocoa liquor)
Semi-finished product from three production lines at the headquarters, base for chocolate and further processing.
Cocoa powder
Product manufactured at the second site for the food industry.
Cocoa butter
Semi-finished product manufactured at the second site for confectionery and food recipes.
Cocoa nibs
Broken cocoa product in the manufacturer's portfolio.
Chocolate/Couverture
Milk, dark and white chocolate as liquid semi-finished products for industrial further processing.
Organic quality
Delivery of cocoa and chocolate semi-finished products in organic quality is possible.
Sites
Bexbach – Headquarters
DEHeadquarters and production (cocoa mass, chocolate semi-finished products)
- Materials
- Cocoa beans, cocoa mass, chocolate/couverture
- 3 cocoa mass production lines (1962, 2006, 2012)
- Storage capacity for liquid cocoa and chocolate semi-finished products
- Laboratory/sensory analysis
- In-house maintenance teams
Bexbach – Plant II (former GE-Alstom site)
DEProduction site for cocoa powder and cocoa butter (commissioned 2019)
- Materials
- Cocoa mass, cocoa powder, cocoa butter
- 2 production facilities for cocoa powder/cocoa butter
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roasting of cocoa beans (two processes in two factories)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | Cocoa beans |
| Production of cocoa mass (cocoa liquor), 3 production linesAssembly | – | – | – | – | Cocoa beans |
| Production of cocoa powder and cocoa butter (second production site)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Cocoa mass |
| Production of chocolate/couverture (milk, dark and white chocolate) and liquidAssembly | – | – | – | – | Cocoa mass, Cocoa butter, Cocoa powder, Sugar, Milk |
| Laboratory testing and sensory controls of the production processTesting | – | – | – | – | Cocoa products |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa mass production line | – | 3 | – | 1962/1998 | Bexbach |
| Production facility for cocoa powder/cocoa butter | – | 2 | – | 2019 | Bexbach (former GE-Alstom site) |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The entire production process is accompanied by regular, qualified laboratory tests and sensory controls. Qualified specialists and certified standards ensure compliance with high customer requirements, also in organic quality.
| Evidence | Bexbach |
|---|---|
| Certified standards (specific standard not stated) |
History
- 1951
Company founded by Georg Hoffmann and Werner Fuchs
- 1958
Start of production of chocolate semi-finished products (according to Wikipedia)
- 1962
Commissioning of a factory for chocolate and cocoa mass
- 1996
WAWI Schokolade AG becomes new owner
- 1998
Modernization and expansion of cocoa mass production
- 2006
Commissioning of a second production line for cocoa mass
- 2009
Start of the gradual acquisition of shareholder interests by the Krüger Group (according to Wikipedia, completed 2015)
- 2010
KRÜGER GROUP becomes new owner
- 2012
Commissioning of a third production line for cocoa mass
- 2015
Acquisition by the Krüger Group completed; awarded Supplier of the Year by Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG (Ritter Sport)
- 2016
Revenue of around €185 million with 77 employees (according to Wikipedia)
- 2017
Purchase of the property of the former GE-Alstom factory in Bexbach for capacity expansion
- 2019
Commissioning of the second production site for cocoa powder/cocoa butter; in November 2019 fire in parts of the factory and temporary production pause