French chocolate-maker CEMOI will boost its cocoa grinding capacity in top producer Ivory Coast to 100,000 tonnes by the end of 2012, the company's chief executive said on Thursday.

Cemoi, also family-owned, is one of the largest bean processors in Ivory Coast. Sweet Products is the owner of chocolate maker Baronie Group and of the 'Belgian Ice Cream' group. ($1 = 0.8194 euros) ...

Belgium-based chocolate maker Sweet Products and French peer Cémoi have confirmed they are in talks over a deal to create the "number one" private-label manufacturer in the sector.

French chocolate maker Cemoi says its new production plant in Cote d'Ivoire, which is set to open in May, will enable the company to serve markets across west Africa.