Barry Callebaut brings Turkish chocolate facility online

Barry Callebaut, a Switzerland-based cocoa and chocolate products manufacturer, has brought its first chocolate manufacturing facility in Turkey online, following an investment of CHF16m ($17m).

Located in Eskisehir, close to existing and potential confectionery customers, the facility will serve as a local base for the company and allows it to further expand into the domestic chocolate market.

It will also enable the company to enter untapped markets in the EEMEA (Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

The plant has an initial production capacity of 14,000t of chocolate per year.

Barry Callebaut CEO Juergen Steinemann said, "This new local presence is another important step in continuing our expansion in fast-growing chocolate markets and widens our footprint."

"Now we are in an even better position to capitalise on the future growth of the attractive Turkish as well as neighbouring markets," Steinemann added.

Barry Callebaut EEMEA region president Filip De Reymaeker said, "There is significant growth potential for us here as demand for high-quality chocolate, technical services and new innovations is growing fast."

"Being centrally located in Eskisehir means we are now closer to the customers we want to serve and to the raw materials we need – all within an ideal radius of 400km from our factory," Reymaeker added.

The company entered the EEMEA region in 2007, with the opening of its first chocolate factory in Chekhov, Russia.

Since then, its annual sales volume in the EEMEA region has increased at a double-digit rate. Earlier this year, regional headquarters were established in Istanbul.

In November, Barry Callebaut is set to open a Chocolate Academy centre in Istanbul, where training services will be provided for professionals such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakeries, hotels, restaurants and caterers.

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Image: The Turkish facility will serve as a local base for Barry Callebaut, allowing it to further expand into the domestic chocolate market. Photo courtesy of Barry Callebaut.