Barry Callebaut and PT Comextra Majora form JV

Barry Callebaut and PT Comextra Majora have entered into a joint venture (JV) to establish a new cocoa products company named PT Barry Callebaut Comextra Indonesia.

Barry Callebaut will own 60% and PT Comextra Majora 40% in the new company, which will be headquartered in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

As part of the joint venture, the new company will invest CHF30m ($33m) to establish a new cocoa processing facility in Makassar, Sulawesi.

The plant will have an initial grinding capacity of 28,000t and is expected to start operations in early 2013.

Barry Callebaut will be responsible for operating the facility and will buy the manufactured products, while Comextra Majora will supply cocoa beans to the factory under a long-term supply agreement.

Barry Callebaut global sourcing and cocoa president Steven Retzlaff said the new cocoa processing facility will help the company to satisfy the increasing demand for cocoa products in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region as well as strengthen its sustainable sourcing activities on the ground.

Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut is a global manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate, while Indonesia-based PT Comextra Majora is an exporter of cocoa and cashew nuts from Sulawesi, Indonesia.