Barry Callebaut active in Asia

Barry Callebaut AG inaugurated its new state-of-the-art chocolate factory and its 8th Chocolate Academy, both located about 100 km west of Shanghai in Suzhou, People’s Republic of China. The factory, with a total production capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes a year and built in the record time of only 12 months, will enable Barry Callebaut to move closer to its growing customer base in Asia-Pacific, in particular in China. Barry Callebaut’s chocolate sales in the region rose around 20% in 2006/07. With its new factory and Chocolate Academy in Suzhou, the company aims to grow its sales out of China by six times by 2012. The total investment amounted to approximately USD 20 million. The factory will employ about 35 people, with another 25 employees in sales and administrative functions.

Barry Callebaut announced the closing of the transaction with Morinaga, one of Japan’s largest food companies with numerous established brands. The transaction involves the acquisition of cocoa and chocolate production equipment at a Morinaga facility in Amagasaki near Osaka, Japan. At the same time, the two companies entered into a 10-year supply agreement for 9,000 metric tonnes a year – doubling Barry Callebaut’s sales volumes in Japan. As previously announced, deliveries of liquid chocolate are expected to begin within the next 12 months. Barry Callebaut plans to upgrade the acquired production lines to create a total production capacity of 20,000 tonnes a year.