Unbeknownst to many, Malaysia is a major player in the cocoa industry. In fact, GCB Cocoa, established in 1985 and headquartered in Johor, is the largest in Asia, and fourth largest cocoa trader worldwide.

At the helm is Brandon Tay, CEO of Guan Chong, who took up the reins at the age of 35. According to him, the company is embracing sustainability whole-heartedly by implementing energy-efficient practices in their operations, minimising waste across their facilities, and ensuring traceable and sustainable cocoa sourcing.

Today, the company has a presence in Indonesia, Ivory Coast, the United States of America and Germany. Plus, the company’s cocoa ingredients are exported to over 70 countries, and its clientele includes world-renowned confectionery manufacturers such as Mars, Hershey’s and Lotte of South Korea.