Cocoa's Reign as World's Best Commodity Lures Corporate Cash
- United Cacao, KKO International investing in cocoa plantations
- Cocoa heading for a fourth year of gains on shortage concerns
Cocoa fruit sit on the ground during harvesting.
Photographer: Jose Cendon/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
In a year that’s spelled disaster for commodities from oil to coffee, cocoa stands out the best performer, and companies are taking notice.
United Cacao Ltd. and KKO International SA are among those investing in plantations as production shortfalls boost prices. United Cacao, a Peruvian grower, is expanding in the country by planting 3,250 hectares (8,030 acres). KKO, which went public in Brussels last month, is working on farms spanning an initial 3,500 hectares in Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest supplier.