News and our stories GROUP

It’s not every day that we open our chocolate factory to the public. Well, Willy Wonka certainly did not do that - except when he gave out golden tickets to some lucky children. We know how blessed we are to be making chocolate for the last 20 years in Singapore, so we decided to give Teresa an exclusive look into what really goes on inside our chocolate factory.

20 years ago, on this date, Barry Callebaut opened its first chocolate factory in Asia. Our Regional President for Region Asia Pacific, Ben De Schryver, reflects on the meaning of this anniversary for him.

Under its sustainability strategy Forever Chocolate, Barry Callebaut has committed to have 100% of the ingredients in its products coming from sustainable sources as well as zero deforestation in its supply chain. Sustainable palm oil plays an important role in fulfilling both of these objectives.

Today, June 12, is the World Day Against Child Labor. As a company deeply rooted in cocoa origin countries and communities, especially in West Africa, we are still faced with the fact that children are working on cocoa farms, predominantly in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. That is why we committed to eradicating child labor from our supply chain by 2025. Supporting parents in formally registering their children is one element in a portfolio of actions we do.

How to give farmers in remote places better access to supplies of seedlings? An initiative in Tanzania is bringing together cocoa farmers with people from local communities in order to improve the distribution of cocoa seedlings and enhance livelihoods. The program is part of Barry Callebaut’s sustainability strategy ‘Forever Chocolate’ and is driven by its direct sourcing organization Biolands in cooperation with KIM’s Chocolates.

Combining field work and new technology, field facilitators at Barry Callebaut are helping cocoa farmers in Indonesia improve their sustainable farming practices.

The Gourmet division of the Barry Callebaut Group operates the most comprehensive teaching and training centers for artisans and professionals who want to improve their working skills in chocolate. Four of these 19 CHOCOLATE ACADEMY centers are located in Asia Pacific. These four centers have recently undergone a makeover - integrating a new visual brand identity - a homogeneous look and feel that is designed to inspire chef communities living and working within this dynamic growth region.

Back in September 2015, Barry Callebaut created the Cocoa Horizons Foundation to help shape a sustainable future for cocoa and chocolate. The independent, non profit organization aims to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities through the promotion of sustainable, entrepreneurial farming, improved productivity and community development. The foundation recently published its year-end report highlighting the Cocoa Horizons program achievements from the 2015/16 fiscal year.

A recent study revealed the challenges cocoa farmers face in Côte d’Ivoire. These are manifold, difficult to overcome and stem from the fact that a majority of farmers still live below the national poverty line. We summarized the reports’ insight into an infographic, which also is indicative of the KPI’s we will continue to track in our Cocoa Horizons program.

Barry Callebaut committed to become carbon and forest positive under its Forever Chocolate sustainability strategy. This week, together with other leading chocolate and cocoa companies, we committed to end deforestation - with the support of non-governmental organizations such as the Prince of Wales' International Sustainability Unit (ISU).

Marie is the President of cocoa cooperative, Boukabla, located in Niablé, eastern Côte d'Ivoire. The cooperative made up of almost 200 female farmers, supplies UTZ Certified cocoa to Barry Callebaut.

There is no chocolate without cocoa. But looking at the social and productivity challenges of cocoa farmers in West Africa - the largest supplier of cocoa in the world - we have to be brutally honest and ask the question: Will we still have enough cocoa in 20 years to satisfy chocolate demand? Will there be chocolate forever? That's why we, Barry Callebaut, decided to confront these challenges head on and commit to four bold targets to make sure there is 'Forever Chocolate’. Let's have a closer look at today’s challenges in West Africa’s cocoa supply chain and how we think we can address them!