Barry Callebaut: opens chocolate factory in South America

Zurich / CH. (bc) Barry Callebaut AG inaugurated a new chocolate factory located in Extrema, Minas Gerais, near Sao Paulo, Brazil – the company´s first chocolate factory in South America. The factory marks another cornerstone in Barry Callebaut´s strategy to selectively expand its geographic presence to emerging markets that offer above-average growth opportunities. Juergen Steinemann, CEO of Barry Callebaut:

«Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world with a population of more than 190 million, and the country has returned much faster to its earlier growth dynamic than most other economies after the recent economic turmoil. In addition, the Brazilian Government as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are expecting a GDP growth of up to six percent for 2010. Against this background and based on growth forecasts for the Latin American chocolate market of more than three percent in volume terms (Source: Euromonitor International) annually over the next three years, we see a tremendous market potential – not only in Brazil but in the entire region. 75 percent of the Brazilian GDP is generated within a radius of 500 kilometres from Extrema. With our existing cocoa factory in Ilheus, Bahia, and now our new chocolate factory in Extrema, we are close to our local customers and well positioned to achieve our goal to also become the No 1 chocolate supplier to Brazil´s fast-growing food service industry».

Barry Callebaut opened a state-of-the-art chocolate factory in Extrema, Minas Gerais, Brazil, to move closer to its local customers and unlock attractive growth potential (Picture: Photopress / AP Photo / Nelson Antoine).

Barry Callebaut has been present in Brazil with a cocoa factory in Ilheus, Bahia, since 1999, and employs more than 300 people in the country. Today, the company operates nine cocoa and chocolate factories across the Americas.

The new chocolate factory in Extrema has been designed to meet the highest quality and food safety standards and has an annual production capacity of around 20’000 tonnes which can be doubled based on the same infrastructure. The total investment amounted to approximately 15 million USD (28 million BRL / 18 million CHF). At the start of chocolate production in Extrema, Barry Callebaut offers 70 new jobs – going up significantly with new lines to be implemented in the future depending on market development.

The new factory will make high-quality dark, milk and white chocolate as well as compound for artisanal and for industrial customers, but no end-consumer products. Capacity utilization at the plant is expected to rise rapidly. 80 percent of the factory´s production will be delivered to the main target customer segment, namely the rapidly growing food service market which includes (fast food) restaurants, (in-store) bakeries, pastries, caterers, hotels, chocolatiers, hospital and school canteens.