46 | theceomagazine.com
Indonesia’s largest cocoa processing company,
BT Cocoa has been in the Jasman family for more than
35 years. Second-generation CEO Thomas Jasman
explains how he’s making his mark on the business.WORDS HOLLY JOHNSON • IMAGES ELISKA MEGAWATI RATNAA
bout 400 cocoa beans go into making just 500 grams
of chocolate. And with people around the world
consuming more than 4.5 million tons of cocoa beans
a year, the World Cocoa Foundation acknowledges
this demand is set to increase.
To prepare for this trend, businesses across the
industry are working against the clock to upgrade their facilities,
streamline their processes and increase operational efficiencies to
satisfy the world’s craving for the sweet treat.
This includes BT Cocoa – the largest cocoa processing
company in Indonesia. Owner Piter Jasman is readying his three
children – Lukas, Juliana and Thomas – to continue to play an
active part in the 150,000 ton-per-year cocoa operation. Lukas
occupies the position of COO, Juliana is Chief Accounting and
Finance, and Thomas leads the charge as CEO.
BT Cocoa supplies cocoa powder, butter and liquor to large
internationally recognised brands such as Meiji, Nestlé and
Mondelez International, as well as to local home-grown businesses.
Its state-of-the-art facility is located close to Indonesia’s main
port (Tanjung Priok) and to the customer base at Jabodetabek
(Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi). It is well positioned to take
advantage of the growing demand for cocoa and chocolate products
in Asia – currently the fastest growing region in the world when
it comes to cocoa. This growth is being driven predominantly by
China, India and South East Asia (at an average of 8–12 per cent
per annum).
“BT Cocoa will make the most of the increased demand over
the next few years by simply continuing to do what we do best- produce high-quality cocoa powder, butter and liquor, and »
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INSPIRE | Interview