INDONESIA – Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s largest cocoa producer has signed a long-term agreement with food and beverage company, Garudafood, extending their supply partnership in Indonesia.
As part of the agreement, Barry Callebaut will supply another 7,000 tonnes of compound chocolate per year to Garudafood’s biscuit factory in Rancaekek, Bandung, with the deliveries expected from mid-2019.
Barry Callebaut will build a “plant in the plant” within Garudafood’s premise in Rancaekek (Bandung), Indonesia, representing an investment of about US$2.8 million.
According to the companies, the collaboration between the two companies will continue to be fuelled by joint innovation activities; further strengthening the position of Garudafood as a market leader in Indonesia.
“This collaboration is also part of our ‘open innovation’ strategy and in support of Industry 4.0, so that our products made are of world-class quality.
We further intensify the collaboration with Barry Callebaut which will support the performance of Garudafood in producing innovative products to provide added value for Indonesian and foreign consumers,” said CEO of Garudafood Hardianto Atmadja.
As part of the initial collaboration, Barry Callebaut has built its first chocolate factory on Garudafood’s Gresik factory premises and is supplying more than 10,000 tonnes of compound chocolate per year to Garudafood.
The two entered a long-term supply agreement in Indonesia in 2015 to become Barry Callebaut’s first chocolate outsourcing agreement in Southeast Asia.
Ben De Schryver, President of Barry Callebaut Asia Pacific, said: “It is truly an honor for us to further strengthen our relationship with Garudafood, a true leader in its field.
This business expansion will also solidify our footprint in Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country with more than 260 million people and one of the most vibrant economies in Asia Pacific.”
The company opened its first chocolate factory in Singapore in 1997, and now operates five chocolate factories (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Singapore), three cocoa factories and one combined chocolate and cocoa factory across Asia.
With more than 550 employees across Indonesia, the company has unravelled its commitment to expanding its sustainability activities for cocoa farmers through its Forever Chocolate Program.
