• Installation of a new spray tower to increase production capacity for spray dried products by up to 50%
• Significant investments of CHF 10 million (EUR 8 million)
• Factory extension is further strengthening Barry Callebaut’s global Gourmet & Specialties Products business

Barry Callebaut AG, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, today celebrates the inauguration of an extension to its dedicated spray-drying production facility in Kågeröd in southern Sweden. This CHF 10 million (EUR 8 million) investment increases the capacity of Barry Callebaut’s center of competence for beverages for producing spray dried products by up to 50%.

With the capacity extension at its specialty production site, Barry Callebaut will be able to further grow the company’s Gourmet & Specialties Products business, serving professional users with convenient products offered under a variety of beverages brands.

The newly installed spray tower will commence production in December 2011. The capacity increase will partly be used for fulfilling a long-term supply agreement Barry Callebaut signed with an international specialty coffee company at the end of 2010.

Juergen Steinemann, CEO Barry Callebaut, said: “The inauguration of the new spray tower in Kågeröd marks another important milestone in growing our Gourmet & Specialties Products business. In the last decade we have continuously invested in our Beverages business and built an innovative center of competence in the south of Sweden.”

Barry Callebaut’s beverages products – produced centrally, sold globally

The Beverages division is a part of the Gourmet & Specialties Products business of Barry Callebaut. Headquartered in Sweden, it is a leading player in Europe in the area of cocoa based powder solutions used in chocolate, cocoa and cappuccino beverages. Through its Beverages division, Barry Callebaut serves the vending and office coffee industry as well as the HORECA (hotels, restaurants and caterers) business. At its domicile in Kågeröd, Barry Callebaut operates an integrated, state-of-the art production site, where most of the beverages products are manufactured. They are mainly marketed in Europe, but are also delivered to customers all over the world.

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Barry Callebaut:
With annual sales of about CHF 4.6 billion (EUR 3.6 billion/USD 5.0 billion) for fiscal year 2010/11, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate – from the cocoa bean to the finished chocolate product. Barry Callebaut is present in 27 countries, operates around 40 production facilities and employs a diverse and dedicated workforce of about 6,000 people. Barry Callebaut serves the entire food industry focusing on industrial food manufacturers, artisans and professional users of chocolate (such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs or bakers), the latter with its two global brands Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®. Barry Callebaut is the global leader in cocoa and chocolate innovations and provides a comprehensive range of services in the fields of product development, processing, training and marketing. Cost leadership is another important reason why global as well as local food manufacturers work together with Barry Callebaut. Through its broad range of sustainability initiatives and research activities, the company works with farmers, farmer organizations and other partners to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods.