The verdict in three sentences
An export website for a food manufacturer in the Amsterdam area costs 20,000 to 45,000 EUR on the 2026 local agency market, for a 10 to 16 week project. Its job is to convince an overseas buyer before the first call: a B2B catalogue with downloadable spec sheets, visible and verifiable certifications (Rainforest Alliance, EU organic, ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000) and a sample request form that qualifies volume, incoterm and destination port. A buyer in Chicago, Dubai or Shanghai who cannot find these three elements moves on to the next processor in Hamburg or Antwerp.
What an overseas buyer checks before requesting a sample
A procurement manager at a US confectioner or a Gulf food distributor compares several suppliers at once. They first check capacity (annual tonnage, containers per month), then specifications (fat content for cocoa butter and powder, moisture, particle size, alkalisation level), then certifications and traceability. Since the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), whose application to large operators is scheduled for the end of 2026, plot geolocation and due diligence documentation have become first-conversation questions for any cocoa product sold through the EU.
| Delivery option | 2026 budget | Timeline | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer, brochure site | 6,000 - 15,000 EUR (market estimate) | 4 - 8 weeks | Rarely a structured technical catalogue |
| Amsterdam agency | 20,000 - 45,000 EUR (market estimate) | 10 - 16 weeks | Typical range for a mid-size manufacturer |
| Amsterdam agency with buyer portal | 60,000 - 120,000 EUR (market estimate) | 4 - 6 months | Customer area, order tracking |
| Kolonell Premium, remote delivery | 2,000,000 - 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 - 5,340 EUR) | 15 business days excluding content | B2B catalogue, certifications, samples |
| Kolonell custom buyer portal | 4,000,000 - 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 - 10,670 EUR) | Depending on the brief | Medium-complexity custom application |
Freelancer and Amsterdam agency budgets are market estimates, not Kolonell prices.
Structuring the B2B catalogue and certifications
The catalogue does not sell online: it replaces the PDF brochure buyers request by email. Each product has its own page, with a specification table, packaging, minimum quantities and a link to the PDF spec sheet.
| Product page element | Cocoa powder example | Cocoa butter example | Why the buyer asks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specifications | Fat 10-12% or 20-22%, pH, fineness | Free fatty acids, colour | Compare with their own spec |
| Packaging | 25 kg multi-ply bags | 25 kg cartons, blocks | Logistics and storage |
| Minimum quantity | 1 x 20 ft container | 1 x 20 ft container | Check the volume fits |
| Certifications | Rainforest Alliance, EU organic | Rainforest Alliance, FSSC 22000 | Required by their own customers |
| Traceability | Origin countries, EUDR geolocation | Mass balance or segregated | EU regulatory compliance |
| Incoterms offered | FCA Amsterdam, CIF | FCA Amsterdam, DAP | Landed price calculation |
Certificates should be displayed with their number and expiry date, linked to the certifier's public database where one exists. An expired certificate visible on the site does more damage than a missing one. The sample request form asks for company, country, product, estimated annual volume, incoterm and destination port, and complies with the GDPR. For West African processors considering the same approach, Kolonell maintenance costs 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month and monthly SEO 100,000 to 350,000 FCFA per month.
Mini case study
Pieter, export director at a cocoa processor near Amsterdam (an illustrative scenario), invests 32,000 EUR in a bilingual export site and 4,800 EUR of maintenance over 12 months, a total of 36,800 EUR. He targets 30 qualified sample requests a year. If 10% become contracts, he signs 3 new buyers. With an estimated net margin of 8,000 EUR per container and 2 containers per buyer in the year, the gain reaches 48,000 EUR, about 1.3 times the first-year investment, before repeat orders in year two.
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FAQ
How much does an export website for a food manufacturer cost in Amsterdam?
Local agencies typically quote 20,000 to 45,000 EUR as a 2026 order of magnitude, and 60,000 EUR or more with a buyer portal. Kolonell's Premium package costs 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR) with remote delivery.
Should we show prices in the catalogue?
No, cocoa product prices move with the market and the incoterm. The site shows specifications, minimum quantities and lead times, and the price goes out as a quote within 24 to 48 hours.
Which certifications should we highlight?
Those your buyers require: Rainforest Alliance and EU organic for cocoa, FSSC 22000 or ISO 22000 for processed products, plus Halal or Kosher for some markets. Show the number and expiry date of each certificate.
How should we address EUDR on the site?
A dedicated page explains your traceability method: share of geolocated plots, origin countries, documentation supplied. EU and non-EU buyers alike raise the topic in most first conversations.
How long does it take to go live?
An Amsterdam agency project takes 10 to 16 weeks. Kolonell delivers in 15 business days after content approval, and gathering spec sheets and certificates often takes the company 2 to 4 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your products, certifications and target markets: we scope a Premium export site between 2,000,000 and 3,500,000 FCFA, delivered in 15 business days after content approval. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
