India to become Barry Callebaut’s largest chocolate-producing market in Asia Pacific
INDIA – India is set to become Barry Callebaut’s largest chocolate-producing market in the Asia Pacific region following the groundbreaking of its third manufacturing facility in the city of Neemrana, about 120 km southwest of Delhi.
With this announcement, Barry Callebaut’s total investment in India over the last 5 years is projected to exceed CHF 50 million (US$52.62 million), the company said in a statement.
It is also a continuation of a relationship between the Belgium-based chocolate maker and India which started in 2007 when Barry opened the first CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ Center in Mumbai in 2007.
Barry Callebaut has continuously invested in the Indian chocolate and cocoa market and today operates two factories in Baramati, producing high-quality chocolate and compound.
The new greenfield facility in Neemrana will cover a total of 20,000 m2 and is scheduled to be operational in 2024.
The factory will include state-of-the-art assembly lines capable of manufacturing chocolate and compound in different delivery formats. It will also house a warehouse and a research & development laboratory.
Barry said the expansion of the Group’s footprint in India is tied to the country’s rapidly developing demand for high-quality chocolate and will serve to meet the growing needs of Barry Callebaut’s customers.
According to Nielsen, India is one of the fastest growing markets for the chocolate confectionery industry with the sales volume of chocolate confectionery in India growing by +26% in 2021 and at a CAGR of +10% between 2017-2021.
“India is among the fastest growing chocolate markets in the world. Over the years, we have invested significantly in our local manufacturing and sales capabilities, which positions us well for the future,” said Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, Managing Director for Barry Callebaut India.
“The new factory will act as a northern hub, bring us closer to customers and create opportunities for us to introduce our high-quality products and industry-leading innovations.”
Barry Callebaut has achieved double-digit volume growth in India over the last five years and currently has more than 160 employees in the country.
Apart from local production, the company also imports to India its global gourmet chocolate brands including Callebaut, Cacao Barry, and Mona Lisa.
In recent months, Barry Callebaut has also unveiled several innovative chocolate products to its customers in India, including its first dairy-free, plant-based chocolate and WholeFruit chocolate, which is made from 100% cacao fruit.
In the larger Asia Pacific region, the company already operates eleven other chocolate and cocoa factories, namely in Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The company has also expanded its sales operations in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, in addition to its existing sales offices in India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
For all the latest food industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
