• Investment totalling nearly PLN 96m (€ 22.8m) over two years
• Planned employment increase by 80 new hires
• Ground stone laying ceremony to be held on 12 November 2014

The Lodz-based chocolate plant of Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, is soon to be expanded to include two additional modern production lines for chocolate manufacturing. The planned investment worth nearly PLN 96m (€ 22.8m) will create 80 new jobs over the coming two years. The plant which was built nearly twenty years ago is located in the Special Economic Zone.

The ground stone laying ceremony will be held on November 12, 2014 and will be attended by representatives of Barry Callebaut’s Regional Management Board and the City of Lodz Office, including the Mayor of Lodz, Hanna Zdanowska. The first new production line will be operational in the summer of 2015. The whole investment will be completed by the end of 2016 and create 80 additional jobs, bringing up the total number of jobs to 200.

“The expansion of our plant in Lodz is a vital element in Barry Callebaut’s growth strategy in Central and Western Europe. Our operations in Poland are a cornerstone in our mid- and long-term plans and the expansion of our production capacity and development of modern methods for chocolate production are key to maintaining our leading market position,” said Philipp Schoeller, Vice President FM Europe Central, Member of the Management Board of Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Polska.

Barry Callebaut’s investment project in Lodz is conducted in the city’s Special Economic Zone, which is recognized as one of the most dynamic SEZ in Poland. Barry Callebaut’s plant expansion is one of the largest projects among all investments approved for implementation in SEZ in 2014.

About Barry Callebaut Group:
With annual sales of about CHF 4.9 billion (EUR 4.0 billion / USD 5.2 billion) in fiscal year 2012/13, the Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds. The Group runs more than 50 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of over 9,000 people.
The Barry Callebaut Group serves the entire food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers. The two global brands catering to the specific needs of these Gourmet customers are Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®.
The Barry Callebaut Group is committed to sustainable cocoa production through its “Cocoa Horizons” initiative to help ensure future supplies of cocoa as well as improve farmer livelihoods.