Belgian-Macedonian Business Club

Barry Callebaut was formed in 1996 through the merger of France’s Cacao Barry and Belgium’s Callebaut, two pioneers of Europe’s chocolate trade. The company was positioned as a wholesale supplier, built on his belief that food sellers would outsource production rather than manage its costly, complex value chain. Barry Callebaut processes about 20 % of global cocoa.

More than 20 factories produce chocolate, beans are sourced world wide and sold under long-term agreements to customers like Nestlé or Unilever. The Belgian Wieze plant is the largest chocolate factory in the world.

But last year’s poor harvests in Ivory Coast and Ghana triggered a historic cocoa shortage. Added to other troubles, the company now faces difficulties. Higher financing cost and company debt and a management shakeup added to this.

Read the full article at LuxTimes.Lu