Barry Callebaut: to concentrate UK chocolate production

Zurich / CH. (bc) Swiss Barry Callebaut AG, the world´s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, announced that it will concentrate its liquid as well as solid industrial chocolate production in Great Britain at its factory in Banbury. For this, the company will increase the production capacities at this site, also broadening the product range for the company´s customers. The consolidation of activities in Banbury is following a trend towards more customer deliveries in solid form. In this context, Barry Callebaut will relocate its current manufacturing activities in Chester to the Banbury factory. Since 1992, the company has been operating a line for the production of liquid milk chocolate in Chester with an annual capacity of 25’000 tonnes. Barry Callebaut employs 25 people at its factory in Chester. A consultation process has been started in order to guarantee a socially responsible procedure. The closing of the Chester plant is planned for the end of March 2013.

Completion of Dijon sale to «Chocolaterie de Bourgogne»

Barry Callebaut AG also reports that it has completed the sale of its factory and the related business in Dijon (France) to the newly formed «Chocolaterie de Bourgogne», as announced on September 21, 2012. With this, Barry Callebaut concludes the final step to dispose of all its consumer activities and to fully focus on business-to-business, serving industrial food manufacturers, artisans and professional users of chocolate. As a result of the divestiture, Barry Callebaut reported a one-time loss from discontinued operations of 66,8 million CHF (55,1 million EUR) in its fiscal year 2011/2012. The operational result of the business until completion of the sale as well as final price adjustments will be reported under discontinued operations for the company´s fiscal year 2012/2013. Barry Callebaut is not expecting a significant additional write-off.