French Chocolatier Olivier Bordais Prepares Launch of Cameroon-Made Chocolate Line

Cameroon’s chocolate industry is set to gain a new player next month with the launch of the first products from Chocolat Rouge, a factory built near Obala by French chocolatier Olivier Bordais.

During a meeting with Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana on June 19, Bordais announced that the company’s first Cameroon-made chocolate bars would reach the market within three weeks, paving the way for a commercial launch in July 2026.

The factory was originally expected to begin operations in 2025 and was later scheduled to start production no later than the second quarter of 2026.

The announcement comes as Cameroon encourages businesses to take advantage of China’s new duty-free market access scheme for eligible African products. The measure, which took effect on May 1, 2026, is designed to boost African exports to China. Bordais has indicated that Chocolat Rouge intends to target that opportunity. Construction of the factory began on May 31, 2024. The project represents an investment of about €1.5 million, equivalent to nearly CFA1 billion.

The facility covers 3,000 square meters and will produce premium chocolate bars made in Cameroon for international markets. The project is part of broader efforts to increase the local processing of cocoa and diversify Cameroon’s exports beyond raw beans.

Cameroon has already strengthened its position in global cocoa processing. Since 2024, the country has ranked among the world’s top 10 exporters of cocoa paste and cocoa butter, according to the Competitiveness Committee, a think tank affiliated with the Ministry of Economy.

BRM