Barry Callebaut inaugurated a new chocolate factory located in Extrema, Minas Gerais, near São Paulo, Brazil – the company’s first chocolate factory in South America.
Juergen Steinemann, CEO of Barry Callebaut, says, “Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world with a population of more than 190 million, and the country has returned much faster to its earlier growth dynamic than most other economies after the recent economic turmoil. Against this background and based on growth forecasts for the Latin American chocolate market of more than three percent in volume terms [Source: Euro monitor International] annually over the next three years, we see a tremendous market potential – not only in Brazil but in the entire region. 75% of the Brazilian GDP is generated within a radius of 500 kilometers from Extrema.”
The new chocolate factory in Extrema has an annual production capacity of around 20,000 tones, which can be doubled based on the same infrastructure. The total investment amounted to approximately £10 million (€11 million). At the start of chocolate production, Barry Callebaut offers 70 new jobs – going up significantly with new lines to be implemented in the future depending on market development.
Capacity utilisation at the plant is expected to rise rapidly. 80% of the factory’s production will be delivered to the main target customer segment, namely the rapidly growing food service market which includes restaurants, fast food restaurants, bakeries, pastries, in-store bakeries, caterers, hotels, chocolatiers, hospital and school canteens. For the distribution of food service products manufactured in Extrema, Barry Callebaut signed an exclusive distribution agreement with leading agribusiness company Bunge in 2009.
