The Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, has signed an agreement to acquire Inforum, a leading Russian B2B producer of chocolate, coatings and fillings, serving many of the well-known consumer chocolate brands in Russia. This strategic acquisition will strengthen Barry Callebaut’s presence and production capacity in the high-growth Russian market, allow it to expand its market position, to leverage its value-adding Gourmet & Specialties business and to further increase market penetration in CIS countries and export markets. Inforum was founded in 1989 by four entrepreneurs, including Evgeny Bulytov. The company started its business selling cocoa products. Sales revenue in 2017 was about RUB 5.1 billion (CHF 86 million / EUR 77 million). The company operates a production site in Kasimov, Ryazan Oblast (285 km southeast of Moscow) and employs more than 300 people, who will transfer to Barry Callebaut upon completion of the transaction.