• Expansion meets Brazilian consumers' demand increase for chocolate
• Minas Gerais unit serves both industrial and artisan market

The Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products, announced today plans for additional investments at its factory in Extrema, Minas Gerais. The company will increase the chocolate liquid, molding, and warehousing. These expansion projects are responding to an increased customer demand and accommodating further growth in the region. Barry Callebaut will invest a total of BRL 28 million (USD 11.5 million). The Extrema production site started running in 2010 as Barry Callebaut’s first chocolate facility in South America – a milestone in the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in emerging markets.  The new equipment and the warehouse will be finalized by April 2015.

Paul Halliwell, General Manager of the Chocolate Division of Barry Callebaut Brazil, said: “The increase of our production capacity is being undertaken to meet the growth in both our Food Manufacturing business and our local Gourmet brand SICAOTM whilst our warehouse expansion will be used as well to support the growing needs of our  imported brands CALLEBAUT® and CACAO BARRY®”

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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.