Arabic version: كادبوري تقلّص مدة توريد سلسلة الإمداد في ماليزيا

According to Cnbc, Mondelez International has opened a $22 million chocolate-ingredient facility in Shah Alam, Malaysia, cutting at least two months from the supply-chain lead time for a key component used in Cadbury chocolate.

The facility will produce chocolate crumb locally rather than importing it from Australia and South Africa. The ingredient contributes to the taste and texture of Cadbury chocolate products. Nitin Binnani, Mondelez International’s vice president of integrated supply chain for Southeast Asia, said producing crumb in Shah Alam removes at least two months from the company’s supply-chain lead time.

Mondelez expects the plant to lower import and transportation costs while supporting volume growth across Southeast Asia. Shah Alam is the company’s sole Cadbury manufacturing hub for the region, producing more than 130 varieties of chocolate and about 100 million bars annually.

Southeast Asia also serves a wider role in Mondelez’s manufacturing network. Its Cikarang plant in Indonesia supplies products to nearly 40 countries, including Australia and Japan, while Thailand operates as an export-oriented hub for gum and candy. Mondelez is exporting crumb to Pakistan to help address supply disruptions from interrupted shipping channels.

The Chicago-based company owns brands including Oreo, Ritz, Cadbury and Sour Patch Kids. Cargill has also expanded its specialty fats facility in Port Klang, Malaysia, including capacity for ingredients used in chocolate manufacturing.