Chocolate and cocoa products giant, the Barry Callebaut Group, has announced its plans to build a new specialty chocolate factory in Ontario, Canada, expanding its North American presence.
The new state-of-the-art factory is planned to have an initial annual production capacity of over 50,000 tonnes.
The company intends to invest a total of USD 104 million (CHF 100 million) in the facility over a ten-year period.
The new Canada specialty factory is expected to be operational by 2024.
According to a press release sighted by Cocoa Post, the plant will focus on manufacturing sugar-free chocolate, as well as high protein and other specialty products, reflecting the market trends.
“According to IRI1, the US market for specialty chocolate grew +5.9% in 2021 to USD 14.7 billion. Barry Callebaut expects to create over 200 new jobs to staff its new state-of-the-art facility,” it said.
Barry Callebaut’s new factory in Ontario is recognised at the biggest capital investment in the Region, and adds to the Group’s 15 chocolate and cocoa processing factories across the Americas Region.
“Consumers are searching for healthier and tasty solutions for the foods they love. ‘Free from’ foods like sugar-free or dairy-free are healthier options that also satisfy the indulgence they are craving. Through the addition of a sugar-free facility, Barry Callebaut is positioning itself to be the leader in “Better for You” offerings for our customers, which include a wide range of low- and sugar-free solutions,” said Steve Woolley, President of the Region Americas of Barry Callebaut.
The Ontario factory marks Canada’s second Barry Callebaut plant in the country, with the other one in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, its largest facility in Region Americas.
The company said the investment in Ontario fits the Group’s strategy to continuously nurture its global footprint, locating production close to its customers.
The Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products with annual sales of about CHF 7.2 billion (EUR 6.6 billion / USD 7.9 billion) in fiscal year 2020/21.
The Group runs more than 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 13,000 people.
It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.
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