Barry Callebaut to spend $11.5m on Brazilian plant expansion

Barry Callebaut will increase capacity at its factory in Extrema, Minas Gerais in Brazil in anticipation of rising demand in the region.

The $11.5m investment will increase the chocolate liquid, molding, and warehousing capacity and is expected to be completed in April 2015.

“The increase of our production capacity is being undertaken to meet the growth in both our Food Manufacturing business and our local Gourmet brand SICAOTM whilst our warehouse expansion will be used as well to support the growing needs of our  imported brands Callebaut and Cacao Barry,” said Paul Halliwell, general manager of the chocolate division of Barry Callebaut Brazil.

The Extrema plant was Barry Callebaut’s first factory in South America when it was established in 2010.

Market research firm Mintel has forecast that value sales of chocolate confectionery in Brazil will reach BRL 7.8bn ($4bn) by 2015, up 24% from 2011.