Nestle Malaysia showcased its latest innovation in cocoa-based products: the award-winning KitKat Dark Borneo chocolate at the recent Malaysian International Cocoa Fair 2025 (MICF), held at the Sabah International Convention Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
KitKat Dark Borneo is a single-origin chocolate made using cocoa beans grown in Sabah and Sarawak.
This initiative underscores Nestle’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in cocoa-based products, continuing its broader effort to revitalise Malaysia’s cocoa farming industry, aiming to source 10,000 metric tonnes of locally grown cocoa by 2034.
In partnership with the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB), Nestle Malaysia launched the Nestle Borneo Cocoa Initiative (NBCI) in 2023 which expanded the company’s Farmer Connect program to East Malaysia, equipping local farmers with improved cultivation methods.
NBCI promotes regenerative farming through agroforestry, intercropping and soil health management, enhancing yields and boosting farm resilience while protecting the natural ecosystem.
Nestlé Malaysia’s commitment to ethical sourcing, halal-certified production and long-term sustainability extends across its cocoa supply chain.
KitKat Dark Borneo, developed under this partnership, reflects Malaysia’s expertise in cocoa cultivation, crafted with locally grown beans that embody the country’s deep-rooted traditions.
Nestlé Malaysia chief executive officer Juan Aranols said Malaysia’s cocoa processing sector continues to expand, with exports reaching RM15 billion in 2024, primarily supported by imported cocoa beans.
He noted that local cocoa production remains largely untapped, presenting significant opportunities not only for industry growth but also for enhancing the livelihoods of farming communities, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, where conditions are ideal for cultivating high-quality cocoa.
“Nestle Malaysia is fully committed to working alongside local stakeholders to expand cocoa farming while upholding the highest standards of sustainability, traceability and human rights compliance.
“We are excited to transform the dedication of North Borneo’s farmers into innovative products that bring joy to Malaysians and our consumers worldwide, just as we have with KitKat Dark Borneo – now introduced in a special ice cream edition that celebrates Malaysia’s cocoa heritage and promising future,” Aranols said.
Crafted with 100% sourced cocoa beans grown in the lush volcanic soil and tropical climate of Sabah and Sarawak, the KitKat Dark Borneo with 52% cocoa content strikes a balanced flavour of ‘not too bitter, not too sweet’, as a result of careful fermentation and sun-drying process used for the cocoa beans.
KitKat Dark Borneo has also been honoured with the NielsenIQ (NIQ) BASES Breakthrough Innovation Award 2024, a recognition that highlights both the success of the product and the growing appreciation for single-origin chocolate among consumers.
Nestle Confectionery business executive officer Carlota Casellas said: “KitKat has always been about indulgence and joy. With KitKat Dark Borneo, we set out to create something that truly honours our roots.
“As we continue to innovate, we are expanding our use of local cocoa into other categories, and one such innovation is the launch of KitKat Dark Borneo Ice Cream, featuring our signature wafer ice cream, coated in dark chocolate made from Borneo cocoa and topped with crushed KitKat wafer bits.”
KitKat Dark products are produced at the Halal-certified Chembong industrial complex in Negeri Sembilan. This facility is one of the largest Nestle confectionery and ice cream plants in Asia, and serves as a pivotal export manufacturing hub, supplying Halal KitKat products to ASEAN markets and other destinations.
The factory has implemented sustainability initiatives, introducing biomass boiler that operates using renewable energy sources such as oil palm empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and advancing Nestle’s goal of carbon-neutral manufacturing.
For more information, visit https://www.nestle.com.my/brands/confectionery, or its official social media channels on FB at https://www.facebook.com/KitKatMalaysia and IG at www.instagram.com/KitKatMalaysia
