FDBusiness.com

Barry Callebaut, the global manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate products, is selling its European consumer business Stollwerck to the Belgian Baronie Group for an undisclosed price. The deal comprises the entire Stollwerck Group including five factories in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

The transaction also includes a long-term supply agreement between Baronie Group and Barry Callebaut for the supply of approximately 25,000 tonnes of liquid chocolate annually as well as the additional supply of cocoa beans and semi-finished products. The transaction, which is subject to antitrust assessment, is expected to close before the end of 2011.

Stollwerck, founded in 1839 and bought by Barry Callebaut in 2002, is a producer of chocolate confectionery products offering an extensive portfolio to most of the important retailers in Europe. Sales revenue of Stollwerck is approximately Eur500m and volumes sold are more than 100,000 tonnes. Stollwerck’s volumes consist of private label business, branded chocolate products (Sarotti, Alprose, Alpia and Jacques) and co-manufacturing for third parties. The company employs about 1,700 people.

Baronie Group, which has its roots in Holland, produces a wide portfolio of chocolate products for national and international customers. The manufacturing operations cover branded products, private label products and third party branded chocolates. The assortment ranges from every day chocolates (Assorted Belgian Chocolates, Seashells and tablets) to seasonal chocolate products for Christmas and Easter. Baronie already owns and operates three state-of-the-art production sites in Holland and Belgium and an ultra-modern logistical centre for warehousing and co-pack activities, located in Belgium.

Baronie Group is part of Belgium-based Sweet Products, a privately owned family company.