In this month’s feature, we sit down with Ebuka Mbachu, the CEO of one of West Africa’s fastest-growing cocoa export companies. With global demand rising and sustainability becoming a non-negotiable standard, SPENAGRO is positioning itself as a key player in cocoa cultivation, ethical sourcing, farmer empowerment, and premium cocoa delivery.
The global cocoa market has seen major shifts this year. How is your company navigating these changes?
The market is indeed evolving rapidly, driven by climate concerns, stricter international regulations, and increased demand for high-quality cocoa.
For us, the approach is simple: increase our capacity, strengthen traceability when sourcing, deepen farmer relationships, and maintain consistent quality.
We’ve invested in digital farmer registration, upgraded our quality-control labs, and we’re now expanding partnerships across Europe, Asia, and North America. Stability comes from preparedness, and we’ve positioned ourselves ahead of the curve.
What markets are you currently exporting to, and how is demand shaping up globally?
Demand remains strong as ever, we recently shipped to Russia. More importantly, we’re seeing increased enquiries from Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Malaysia.
Our buyers consistently highlight our quality consistency, which ranges between 95 –98 percent and our reliability in meeting timelines.
As chocolate manufacturers seek ethically sourced cocoa, high-quality West African beans properly processed remain in high demand.
What new partnerships or milestones have you achieved recently?
We’re about to sign a long-term supply deal with a major European partner. This partnership validates the work we’ve put into quality improvements and traceability.
We also commissioned a new quality-control laboratory, allowing us to conduct faster moisture analysis, bean cuts, and defect detection. This improves our grading accuracy and strengthens buyer confidence.
Many investors are now looking at cocoa as a stable commodity. What would you say to potential investors or partners?
Cocoa is not just an agricultural commodity; it’s a strategic global market with rising long-term demand.
For investors, there are three reasons to pay attention to our sector.
Demand Outpaces Supply:
Global chocolate consumption continues to grow, while climate limitations create supply gaps.
Value-Addition Opportunities:
Beyond bean export, cocoa butter, powder, and liquor offer higher margins. We’re positioning ourselves for these expansions.
Regulatory Compliance:
With stricter EU Deforestation Regulations, exporters who have a high production capacity and can prove traceability like us become preferred partners. We are open to strategic collaboration, especially in processing and scale expansion.
What internal achievements from your team are you most proud of this month?
Our Logistics Team achieved a 95 percent on-time shipment rate, our highest ever. We also welcomed five new quality-control officers to support our expanded lab. Our team is young, innovative, and deeply committed. They’re the reason buyers trust us.
Looking ahead, what should stakeholders expect in the next quarter?
We’re focused on two priorities: Enhancing processing trials for cocoa butter and powder and increasing export volumes to meet market demand
The future is promising. Our vision is to build Africa’s most trusted cocoa export brand—grounded in quality, ethics, and community impact.
SPENAGRO continues to bridge African farmers with global chocolate markets through transparency, innovation, and sustainability.
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