COLOMBIA—Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, is partnering with Colombian food ingredient supplier Levapan to expand its Latin American distribution network.

Levapan is a Colombian company founded in 1956 that specializes in the production, marketing and distribution of raw materials for the food industry across Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Dominican Republic and Panama.

Its offerings include bakery and confectionery, mass consumption products, gastronomy, agribusiness, vegetable and animal proteins.

As the distribution agreement expands Callebaut’s presence to Colombia and Ecuador and strengthens its position in the Dominican Republic, it will continue to drive the company’s expansion in the Americas as it aims to be the Number 1 chocolate partner for its customers.

Steve Woolley, President and CEO, Area Americas, Barry Callebaut, stated, “This strategic supply agreement enables both companies to continue to drive strategic, long-term growth throughout Latin America,”

Levapan too benefits from this distribution partnership for it is set to increase its capacity and service offerings in the region to include chocolate products from the global Barry Callebaut brands Mona Lisa, Callebaut and Sicao.

Jesús Carlos Valencia, managing director of Barry Callebaut Group for Northern Latin America, added, “This is just the beginning of our expansion in north Latin America and the Caribbean,”

“We have a strong growth ambition and are seizing the potential in these vital markets for our chocolate products.”

With annual sales of about US$ 7.9 billion in fiscal year 2020/21, the Belgian-Swiss cocoa processor and chocolate manufacturer sources and processes cocoa beans to produce the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds.

The Group runs more than 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 13,000 people.

Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletter with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro-industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE.