CANADA – Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, has increased investment in Canada with the expansion of the Ontario factory.
The expansion project includes the installation of expanded liquid and molding lines as well as enhanced dairy-free production capabilities, the Belgian chocolate supplier said.
The expansion of the factory began in 2018 with an initial investment of US$30m for additional liquid storage capacity that will enable the facility to expand the variety of products available to customers.
Throughout the 2022/2023 fiscal year, an additional US$70m will have been invested in the factory, bringing the total to US$100m.
“This Chatham expansion marks another milestone for our region. Investing in our compound production, together with the new specialty chocolate factory in Brantford, allow us to lean into the wide variety of specialized experience in the region and to establish a strategic foothold in our network as we accelerate our growth journey,” said Steve Woolley, president and CEO Americas at Barry Callebaut.
Production at the plant currently includes a broad range of products, from liquid milk and dark compound to molded products. White compound production will be added in 2023.
The company said investment in both liquid and molding lines, as well as enhanced capabilities for the production of the dairy-free compound, will accommodate growing customer demand for plant-based indulgence and enable it to continue to drive long-term growth in the growing compound market in North America.
Balaji Padmanabhan, VP of operations and supply chain in the Americas commented that “this new capacity will satisfy growing demand from both food manufacturers and gourmet customers for compound solutions in this dynamic consumer market.”
Earlier this year Barry Callebaut announced an investment of US$104m in a new specialty chocolate factory in Brantford, Canada. The factory in Brantford will focus on sugar-free chocolate, high protein, and other specialty products to meet increasing customer demand.
In addition, the company unveiled its sixth Forever Chocolate Progress Report, presenting the progress it has made against its target in 2016 to make sustainable chocolate the standard.
One of its key achievements noted is that the group has increased the proportion of products sold containing 100% sustainable cocoa or chocolate to 49.4%, meaning one in two products.
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