Energy efficiency and flexibility aided by loan - Barry Callebaut

By Helen Glaberson

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Barry callebaut United states Finance Canada

A $3.1m loan from the Canadian government will allow Barry Callebaut Canada to meet increased demand through a more flexible production line and also allow it to innovate further, said the industrial chocolate supplier.

The company said it is to invest part of the money in the installation of a system for combustion of biomass, produced from cocoa shells, which will help improve the energy efficiency of the Saint-Hyacinthe plant.

A spokesperson for Barry Callebaut told ConfectioneryNews.com that it was not in a position to disclose further information on the funding at this juncture.

Specialising in the production of industrial chocolate, Barry Callebaut Canada, which sells a large amount of its output to the US, is one of Quebec's largest agri-food exporters.

The government financial assistance was provided from the minister of state for Canada Economic Development, under the Business and Regional Growth ​programme, will be allocated to the acquisition of equipment. The financing is available to any company so long as the relevant criteria are met.

Growth in America

In a financial statement released in November, Barry Callebaut reported that chocolate consumption in the US dipped to low levels in early 2010 but rebounded strongly in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009/10. “Overall, the chocolate market in the US grew by 2.7 per cent,” ​said the industrial chocolate supplier.

In contrast, the company said that developing regions of Brazil and Mexico had showed consistent strength, with the Brazilian chocolate market increasing by 3.5 per cent.

And on the back of predicted growth in Latin America, Barry Callebaut recently opened a new chocolate factory in Brazil In May 2010. This followed the setting up of the Swiss firm's €30m industrial chocolate facility in Mexico in January of last year in the north-eastern state of Nuevo Leon.

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