Barry Callebaut: strong start to the fiscal year 2015/16

According to the company, top-line growth was broad-based and fueled by the three key growth drivers Outsourcing & Partnerships, Emerging Markets and Gourmet & Specialties.

This contrasts with a 3.7% decline (source: Nielsen, September – November 2015) of the global chocolate confectionery market in the period under review. Sales revenue for Barry Callebaut increased by 13.3% in local currencies (+ 3.8% in CHF) and amounted to CHF 1.809 bn, driven by higher cocoa bean prices. Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of the Barry Callebaut Group, said: “The good growth momentum from the fourth quarter 2014/15 continued and we had a strong start to our new fiscal year with broad-based sales volume growth and positive contributions from all key growth drivers. Our focus on ‘smart growth’, i.e. a balance between volume growth and enhanced profitability as well as cash flow generation, is gradually being implemented, and our transformation projects are well on track.”

Additionally, the company announced it has appointed Carole Le Meur as the Group’s new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) effective April 1, 2016. In her function, Le Meur will be a member of the Executive Committee of the company; and she will report directly to de Saint-Affrique