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.

French chocolate maker CEMOI plans to open a factory in Ivory Coast in May to target the local and West African market, a company official said on Monday.

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.

Cemoi is investing EUR6m (US$6.5m) in the plant, which will turn out finished products for both the business-to-business and consumer markets.