Mondelez, the U.S.-based company that owns the Cadbury and Vegemite brands is considering producing cocoa in northern Australia as part of the Ord River Irrigation scheme. Cadbury produces approximately 50,000 tons of chocolate a year and is planning a $66 million upgrade to its plant near Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. The area of the Ord River Irrigation scheme has been identified as a source of up to 10% of Cadbury’s annual cocoa needs. Coalition leader Tony Abbott has pledged $16 million to assist Cadbury with its upgrade and has set aside an unspecified amount of land on the Ord for a cocoa trial. To attract investors to stage II of the Ord River project the Australian government spent $311 million on a 31 km extension and upgrade of the main irrigation channel and construction of 40 km of sealed roads. Up to eight Chinese companies have looked at major investments in the Ord and one state-owned entity is heavily involved in the tender process. To read more about stage II of the Ord River Irrigation scheme and the companies looking at investment opportunities:
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