FDBusiness.com

Barry Callebaut is to build a factory for chocolate and compounds in Eskişehir, Turkey. The new facility will serve as a basis to participate in the further growth potential of the Turkish chocolate market as well as to capture opportunities in the regional market.

Situated in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region, the location in Eskişehir is close to existing and potential confectionery customers of Barry Callebaut. The total investment is about SFr15 million (Eur12 million). The new factory will have an initial capacity of 15,000 tonnes and will provide 50 new jobs. Barry Callebaut’s new site in Turkey is scheduled to open mid-2013.

Juergen Steinemann, chief executive of Barry Callebaut, says: “The building of a new state-of-the-art chocolate factory in Turkey is another major step in tapping the potential of a rapidly growing region. It’s in line with our strategy to further expand our geographic presence to markets that offer above-average growth opportunities. The new production facility will also help to foster our position in the region.”

To further grow in the Eastern European region, Turkey is an important market for Barry Callebaut. Currently the yearly chocolate consumption is rather low with less than 2 kg per capita; but it is growing very fast at an annual rate of +7% per annum. There is an increasing demand for high-quality chocolate and compound products as well as for technical services and new innovations.