(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon will be the guest of honor at the International Chocolate and Pastry Show in Vannes, France, from November 8 to 11, 2024. The announcement was made on October 5, 2024, in Yaoundé during the Cholate Battle, a competition to select the chocolatier and pastry chef who will represent the country at this celebration.
Cyrille Wandji Djako won the chance to participate. He will not only represent Cameroon at the Vannes show but also receive training in France. The Cholate Battle – organized by Aristide Tchemtchoua- opened doors for Cameroon at the International Chocolate and Pastry Show.
Tchemtchoua is a cocoa producer who leads a cooperative of farmers in Nkog-Ekogo, located in the Center Region. She initiated a partnership between French master chocolatiers and top cocoa producers in Cameroon. Nkog-Ekogo is one of the first cooperatives in Cameroon to benefit from a post-harvest processing center for cocoa beans, thanks to a partnership between the Interprofessional Council of Cocoa and Coffee (CICC) and the Confederation of French Chocolatiers and Confectioners. Members of this confederation fell in love with Cameroonian cocoa because of Tchemtchoua’s bold efforts.
In September 2016, French master chocolatier Christophe Bertrand recalls receiving a message on Facebook from Tchemtchoua asking if he would be interested in buying her cocoa. Moved by her initiative, Bertrand agreed to receive a sample of cocoa beans at his own expense. “She dared to do it. She sent me 250 kg, borrowing €700 (about CFA460,000), which is almost a year’s salary there,” Bertrand said, impressed by Tchemtchoua’s determination.
Since then, Bertrand has returned to Cameroon several times, accompanied by members of the Confederation of French Chocolatiers and Confectioners. Their partnership with Cameroonian cocoa producers has strengthened over time.
