Barry Callebaut would transfer Stollwerck to Natra

NATRA, European reference private label chocolate player, and BARRY CALLEBAUT, the world’s leading manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate products, have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the possible integration of Barry Callebaut’s European consumer chocolate business (Stollwerck) into Natra. The combination of the two businesses would create a significant private label and third‐party chocolate products maker in Europe with estimated annual sales of around € 850 million, according to pro forma combined figures for 2008, a share of 2.0% of the entire European cocoa and chocolate market and a pro forma production output of around 215,000 tonnes in 2008. The transaction would include a significant, long‐term outsourcing contract under which Barry Callebaut would supply a minimum volume of 85,000 tonnes per year of liquid chocolate to Natra, guaranteeing the supply of this ingredient for Natra. The final structure of the transaction will be part of the negotiations and still need to be defined.