FDBusiness.com

Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products, significantly increased its sales volume by 11.8% to reach 1,716,766 tonnes for the year ended August 31, 2014. Overall growth was boosted by the integration of the cocoa business acquired in June 2013, continued growth in emerging markets, Gourmet, and through strategic partnerships. All of Barry Callebaut’s product groups contributed to the volume increase.

Underlying volume growth was 2.9% for the full year compared to the 2.3% volume growth of the global confectionery market. Sales revenue was up 20.1% (10.0% like-for-like) to SFr5.865 billion (Eur4.878 billion), as a result of the strong volume growth and higher average cocoa bean prices compared to last year.

Operating profit (EBIT) rose 21.4% to SFr416.2 million including an operating profit of SFr26.7 million (excluding transaction and integration related costs) contributed by the acquired cocoa business. Net profit for the year rose 14.5% to SFr255.0 million, driven by the good EBIT performance, partly offset by higher financing and tax costs.

Juergen Steinemann, chief executive of Barry Callebaut Group, comments: “We achieved another record year, both top and bottom-line. Our sales volume was boosted by the acquired cocoa business, and further supported by our three growth drivers – emerging markets, Gourmet and strategic partnerships. With 2.9% volume growth on a stand-alone basis, we grew faster than the global chocolate market.”

He continues: “The short-term global economic outlook will remain challenging. Therefore, we will focus on tight cost controls. However, based on our proven long-term strategy, the structural investments made over the last few years and the global platforms we have built, we see many opportunities across our three growth drivers – emerging markets, outsourcing and strategic partnerships, and Gourmet. We expect to continue to outperform the global chocolate market and will keep focusing on margin improvements.”