SAO PAULO – The Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products, has announced plans for additional investments at its factory in Extrema, Minas Gerais. The company will increase the chocolate liquid, molding, and warehousing. These expansion projects are responding to an increased customer demand and accommodating further growth in the region. Barry Callebaut will invest a total of BRL 28 million (USD 11.5 million). The Extrema production site started running in 2010 as Barry Callebaut’s first chocolate facility in South America – a milestone in the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in emerging markets. The new equipment and the warehouse will be finalized by April 2015.
Paul Halliwell, General Manager of the Chocolate Division of Barry Callebaut Brazil, said: “The increase of our production capacity is being undertaken to meet the growth in both our Food Manufacturing business and our local Gourmet brand Sicao whilst our warehouse expansion will be used as well to support the growing needs of our imported brands Callebaut and Cacao Barry”