Barry Callebaut continues its China market expansion with new office and CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Beijing
Barry Callebaut continues its China market expansion with new office and CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Beijing
- CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center Beijing is the second to be opened in China – the 22nd one globally
The Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, celebrates today the opening of its new office and its new CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Beijing with customers (global and local food manufacturers, as well as professional chocolatiers) and distribution partners.
The new office and the new CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center will provide better assistance to Barry Callebaut’s local customers with onsite training and application support. This latest investment reemphasizes the company’s continuous efforts in growing its presence in the region as well as an appreciation of the strategic importance of the Chinese market.
Continued expansion in China
China has been a key target market for Barry Callebaut for over a decade. Already back in 2008, Barry Callebaut opened a chocolate factory and a CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Suzhou, followed by a relocation of the offices and the CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center to Shanghai in 2010. The offices in Shanghai, which will continue to be the company’s head office in China, are currently being expanded. Barry Callebaut also chose Shanghai for the global launch of Ruby, the fourth type of chocolate, in 2017.
With the addition of the new Beijing office, Barry Callebaut China has increased its sales representatives in the Greater China region spanning Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Taipei and extended its distribution network across 21 key- and second-tier multi-million cities in China including Chongqing, Dalian, Kunming, Nanjing, Ningbo, Tianjin, Xiamen, and Wuhan.
Although the domestic chocolate industry witnessed a boost in sales volume recently, chocolate consumption per capita in China is still at 100 grams – with plenty of room to grow. According to analyst firm Nielsen, the chocolate confectionery category in China grew (in terms of volume growth) by 4.5% in the last twelve months.1
CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Beijing
The new office in Beijing also includes Barry Callebaut’s second CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in China – the only country with two such centers – and the company’s 22nd CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ globally. The CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ centers are a teaching and training center for artisans and professionals who want to improve their skills in chocolate and learn about new trends, techniques, and recipes. In the last 10 years, more than 3,500 craftsmen in China have attended these events in the CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Shanghai.
Through both its CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ centers in Beijing and Shanghai, Barry Callebaut shares with China its more than 175 years of rich heritage through its global Gourmet chocolate brands Callebaut® (chocolate made in Belgium), Cacao Barry® (chocolate made in France), Carma® (chocolate made in Switzerland), and its decorations brand Mona Lisa®.
Complementary expansion across Asia Pacific
In Asia Pacific, Barry Callebaut already operates nine chocolate and cocoa factories and employs more than 1,800 employees. In the last 12 months, the company has expanded its sales operations in Australia, Indonesia and also in the Philippines, in addition to its existing sales offices in India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Its second chocolate factory in Indonesia is currently being built in Rancaekek (near Bandung).
1 Source: Nielsen, Chocolate Confectionery in China, twelve rolling months up to October 2018.
About Barry Callebaut Group:
With annual sales of about CHF 6.9 billion (EUR 6.0 billion / USD 7.1 billion) in fiscal year 2017/18, 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 about 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 11,500 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 make sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025 to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods. It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.