Indonesian premium chocolate makers target Australian market

The Indonesian premium chocolate industry eyes opportunities in Australia, following the creation of a partnership between Jakarta-based fine chocolate manufacturer Pipiltin Cocoa and Katalis, a business development programme backed by the governments of Australia and Indonesia.

Pipiltin Cocoa will be the point of contact with other interested premium cocoa businesses in Indonesia that plan to enter the Australian premium products and specialty chocolate market.

When announcing the new partnership, Paul Bartlett, Director, Katalis, said, "Katalis works to foster new economic partnerships, business sector engagement, and cooperation that leads to more integrated markets between Australia and Indonesia. With the premium chocolate industry driving the work to identify and investing in opportunities across their value chain, we are confident that the partnership will lead to closer trade and investment, improved market access, and more inclusive economic growth."

Indonesian cocoa farmer in Kampung Merasa, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, holding a premium chocolate product made with local cocoa beans. (Photo courtesy: Pipiltin Cocoa)

Rapid growth in the Indonesian premium chocolate industry over the last five years means it is highly suitable for investment. Australia's premium chocolate segment is also ripe for new opportunities, with similarly fast growth due to increased health consciousness and growing demand for a more diverse range of premium products.

"Research has shown that single-origin cocoa beans from Indonesia exhibit the highest profile diversity in the world, reflecting the diverse agroclimatic conditions of the archipelago and advanced processing techniques applied by the premium cocoa industry in Indonesia. This is part of the strength of our offering and we're excited to work with Katalis to share the story of Indonesian people, culture, and flavours," said Tissa Aunilla, CEO, Pipiltin Cocoa.

With a significant proportion of the small and medium enterprises in Indonesia's premium cocoa supply chain owned and led by women, new market opportunities will empower women entrepreneurs, smallholder cocoa producers, workers, farmers, and young people.

Pipiltin Cocoa and Katalis will work together to identify and promote market opportunities for Indonesian premium cocoa businesses, including through workshops and a trade fair in Australia.

IA-CEPA ECP Katalis (Katalis) is a unique, five-year (2020-25) government-backed business development program unlocking the vast potential of economic partnership between Australia and Indonesia.

Pipiltin Cocoa was founded in 2013 as a couverture bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer that sources very high quality raw beans directly from farmer's cooperatives in Aceh, East Java, Bali, Flores, East Kalimantan and West Papua.