History

Barry Callebaut – a global company with European roots

More than 150 years of tradition and innovation

In 1996 the Belgian chocolate producer Callebaut and the French chocolate company Cacao Barry joined forces, creating a new company called Barry Callebaut. Both Cacao Barry and Callebaut were widely recognized in the food industry as reliable suppliers of high-quality products and as dependable business partners for thousands of wholesale and retail specialists in the chocolate industry. The merger combined Cacao Barry’s know-how in procurement and initial processing of cocoa beans with Callebaut’s extensive experience in producing and marketing chocolate products.

After 1996, the company continued to grow through geographic expansion into strategic growth markets, outsourcing contracts, innovation and acquisitions. Since 1998 Barry Callebaut has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

1999	Acquisition of Carma AG in Switzerland
2002	Acquisition of the Stollwerck Group in Germany
2003	Acquisition of Dutch Group Graverboom B.V. (including Luijckx B.V.)
2003	Acquisition of Brach’s Confections Holding, Inc. in the U.S.
2004	Acquisition of the vending mix business of AM Foods in Sweden
2005	Opening of a chocolate factory in California, U.S.
2007	Opening of a chocolate factory in Chekhov, Russia
2007	Divestment of Brach’s Confections Holding, Inc. in the U.S.
2007	Signing of major outsourcing contracts with Nestlé, Hershey’s and Cadbury
2007	Acquisition of a cocoa factory in Pennsylvania, U.S.
2008	Opening of a chocolate factory in Suzhou, China
2008	Acquisition of a 49% stake in Biolands, Tanzania
2008	Acquisition of a 60% stake in KLK Cocoa in Malaysia
2008	Opening of a sales office and CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Mumbai, India
2008	Opening of CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ centers in Suzhou (China), Zundert (Netherlands), Mumbai (India), Chekhov (Russia) and Chicago (U.S.)
2008	Sale of African Consumer business
2008	Acquisition of IBC, specialist in decorations, in Kortrijk-Heule, Belgium
2008	Outsourcing agreement with Morinaga in Japan and start of production in new factory
2008	Opening of a chocolate factory in Monterrey, Mexico
2009	Sale of Van Houten Singapore consumer business to Hershey's
2009	Distribution agreement signed with Bunge Alimentos in Brazil
2009	Acquisition of Danish vending mix company Eurogran
2009	Acquisition of Spanish chocolate maker Chocovic, S.A.
2010	Opening of a chocolate factory in Extrema, Brazil
2010	Signing of a major outsourcing contract with Kraft Foods Inc.
2011	Acquisition of remaining 40% stake in Barry Callebaut Malaysia Sdn Bhd, formerly KLK Cocoa
2011	Expansion of the existing supply and innovation agreement with Hershey’s
2011	Signing of long-term outsourcing agreement with Chocolates Turín, Mexico
2011	Sale of European Consumer Products business to Belgian Baronie Group
2011	Barry Callebaut and P.T. Comextra Majora enter into joint venture to form P.T. Barry Callebaut Comextra Indonesia
2012	Acquisition of American chocolate decorations manufacturer Mona Lisa Food Products, Inc.
2012	Acquisition of the Spanish la Morella nuts
2012	Launch of new “Cocoa Horizons” initiative based on strategic pillar Sustainable Cocoa
2012	Purchasing Chatham facility from Batory Industries Company in Ontario (Canada)
2012	Signing of long-term outsourcing/partnership agreement with Grupo Bimbo (Mexico), Unilever and Morinaga (Japan)

Today, Barry Callebaut is the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products and the only fully integrated chocolate company with a global presence. The company has evolved from a supplier of industry and specialty chocolates for industrial and artisanal customers into a provider of integrated solutions, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product, to the entire food industry. As the outsourcing partner of choice, Barry Callebaut has an estimated 40% share of sales volumes in the open market. Barry Callebaut offers more than 6,000 recipes to its customers, allowing it to cater to local taste preferences around the world.