Case Study: Tan Bun Skrati N.V.

EU-SUPPORT: WHAT WAS PROVIDED AND HOW IT WAS DELIVERED

Between 2013 & 2025 Tan Bun Skrati N.V. participated in a range of EU-funded support initiatives delivered through programmes implemented by Caribbean Export. The support blended capacity building, technical assistance, and market access opportunities, alongside a Direct Support Grant Programme (DSGP) award in 2020 that enabled targeted investments in equipment, training, and workspace improvements.

It also financed advanced training through

Early EU-funded capacity building included intellectual property and branding workshops, which led to follow-on technical support to improve product packaging. This assistance helped the company identify weaknesses in its original packaging—particularly its limited impact in the Netherlands market and strengthened Tan Bun Skrati N.V.’s ability to communicate and protect its Surinamese origin story. Today, the brand reflects this distinctive identity through immersive imagery inspired by Suriname’s rivers , with customised moulds that create a uniquely shaped artisanal bar. As part of its market access support, Tan Bun Skrati N.V. also showcased its products at the CARIFORUM–EU Business Forum in Jamaica in 2015, and later that year participated in the Caribbean Kitchen at ANUGA Food Fair in Cologne, Germany strengthening visibility and connections with international buyers. In 2020, the company received a DSGP grant, marking a major turning point for both production and revenue. The grant supported investment in production equipment and a fully outfitted chocolate studio, enabling the business to scale operations and expand market reach.

(the Professional Chocolatier Course and Business Plan for Chocolate Makers)

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Improving technical capabilities particularly chocolate tempering

supporting the development of new, higher-value products.

Previous packaging

New packaging

Case Study: Tan Bun Skrati | 2026

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