Barry Callebaut

Barry Callebaut, based in Zürich, Switzerland, is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate – from the cocoa bean to the finished product on the store shelf. </ref>

History

Barry Callebaut is present in 25 countries, operates about 40 production facilities, employs approximately 7,500 people and has annual sales of more than CHF 4 billion fiscal year 2006/07. The company serves the entire food industry, from food manufacturers to professional users of chocolate (such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs or bakers), to global retailers. It also provides a comprehensive range of services in the fields of product development, processing, training and marketing.}}

In the year 1996, the chocolate producer Callebaut from Belgium and the French chocolate company Cacao Barry merged, forming Barry Callebaut. In 1998 Barry Callebaut was listed on the Swiss Exchange SWX. In 1999 the company acquired Swiss chocolate maker Carma AG. In 2002 the group bought Stollwerck in Germany, followed in 2003 by the acquisition of Dutch-Belgian company Luijckx Chocoladen N.V., in 2004 of AM Foods amba (Vending mixes) in Sweden and in 2007 of FPI Food Processing International in the U.S. Barry Callebaut recently opened chocolate factories in Russia and in China.

Chocolate Academies

All over the world, Barry Callebaut set up training centres chocolate professionals who wish to improve their working skills in chocolate and learn about new trends, techniques and recipes. Chocolate academies are located in Wieze (Belgium), St. Hyacinthe (Canada), Meulan (France), Lodz (Poland), Singapore, Zürich (Switzerland), Banbury (United Kingdom), Suzhou (China) and recently Mumbai (India).

External links

• Company website
• Associate Press Report
• Forbes News