• Broad-based sales volume growth of 4.5%, accelerating significantly in Q4
• Operating profit (EBIT) increased by 7.4% in local currencies (-0.3% in CHF), net profit down 2.7% in local currencies (-5.9% in CHF)
• Antoine de Saint-Affrique new CEO since October 1, 2015
• New mid-term financial target¹, with focus on consistent, above-market volume growth and enhanced profitability and on average:
• 4-6% volume growth
• EBIT above volume growth in local currencies
• All Board members stand for re-election; Patrick De Maeseneire, new CEO of Jacobs Holding, proposed as new Board member and Vice Chairman
• Proposed payout to shareholders of CHF 14.50 per share; stable payout ratio of 33%

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of the Barry Callebaut Group, said: “As we have done consistently for the last ten years, we managed to outpace the market and delivered solid, profitable growth. After a slow start to fiscal year 2014/15, our volume growth accelerated, particularly during the last quarter, and reached 4.5% for the year, much in contrast to the global confectionery² market. Sales volume growth was broadly based, driven by developed markets and supported by our key growth drivers Outsourcing, Emerging Markets and Gourmet. Despite the historically weak cocoa products market and excluding a significant negative currency translation effect, we improved our operating profit. This is the result of our continued focus on product mix, margins and costs. I congratulate the team on this robust performance.”

In fiscal year 2014/15 (ended August 31, 2015) the Barry Callebaut Group – the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products – increased its sales volume by 4.5% to 1,794,782 tonnes, with a strong acceleration in the last quarter. The company’s growth for the year compares favorably to the -2.7%² decline in the global confectionery market according to Nielsen. Growth was broadly based with strong contributions from the developed markets in Western Europe and North America, as well as from Outsourcing, Emerging Markets and Gourmet & Specialties. Sales revenue was up 12.1% in local currencies (6.4% in CHF) to CHF 6,241.9 million, as a result of volume growth and higher cocoa bean prices over the entire fiscal year^3.

Gross profit grew 4.8% in local currencies (-1.7 % in CHF) to CHF 846.8 million. It was heavily impacted by the exceptionally low combined cocoa ratio, which was compensated for by the company’s greater focus on margins as well as product and customer mix, bolstered by the growth in the Gourmet & Specialties business.

Operating profit (EBIT) rose 7.4% in local currencies (-0.3% in CHF) to CHF 414.8 million, thereby outpacing volume growth. The low EBIT in Global Cocoa was compensated for by the positive EBIT contribution of all other regions and product groups. This is also the result of a good gross margin development and fixed cost discipline. Following a strong prior year, the Group’s EBIT per tonne grew by 2.9% in local currencies. Due to significant currency translation impacts, EBIT per tonne in CHF declined by 4.7%.

Net profit for the year in local currencies was 2.7% below prior year (-5.9% in CHF) and came in at CHF 239.9 million. This is a reflection of the higher average financing requirements mainly due to higher cocoa bean prices, a foreign exchange loss, as well as higher income tax expenses.

Outlook

Focus on smart balance between consistent, above-market volume growth and enhanced profitability  

Looking ahead, CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique said: “We see significant growth opportunities ahead and we are committed to achieving consistent, above-market volume growth based on our three key growth drivers Outsourcing & Partnerships, Emerging Markets and Gourmet & Specialties. We will strike a balance between volume growth and enhanced profitability as well as free cash flow generation – in brief: ‘smart’ growth. However, we foresee a challenging fiscal year 2015/16 due to the current cocoa products market, which will temporarily affect our profitability. We are driving a number of strategic initiatives, such as the Cocoa Leadership project, to fully leverage our global scale in cocoa, optimize our footprint and strengthen our profitability in the mid-term. We adapt our mid-term guidance to 4-6% volume growth, and EBIT above volume growth in local currencies on average for the 3-year period 2015/16 to 2017/18, barring any major unforeseen events.”
 

Strategic milestones achieved in fiscal year 2014/15

• “Expansion”: Acquisition of the industrial chocolate manufacturing assets from World's Finest® Chocolate, in the attractive U.S. Midwest region, and signing of a long-term supply agreement for the supply all of their chocolate needs. Signing of the first outsourcing agreement in Southeast Asia with GarudaFood of Indonesia for the delivery of an important part of their compound chocolate requirements. Inauguration of a new chocolate factory in Paine/Chile. Expansion of existing chocolate factories in Extrema/Brazil and in Lodz/Poland. Opening of a low-cost compound chocolate factory in Pune/India. Relocation of CHOCOLATE ACADEMY^TM center in Russia to downtown Moscow and opening of three such training centers for professionals in Tokyo, Cologne and Dubai to further boost the Gourmet business, bringing the total number of CHOCOLATE ACADEMY^TM centers to 19. Acquisition of nut specialist American Almond in the U.S. to enhance the specialties product offering in the Americas.
• “Innovation:” Development of new chocolate and compound recipes with higher thermo tolerance to satisfy the demand for chocolate products in warmer climates. Opening of a new Chocolate Application Center in Wieze/Belgium and the first Cocoa Application Center in Asia Pacific, located in Pasir Gudang/Malaysia. 10% of the sales revenue in fiscal year 2014/15 came from new or renovated products.
• “Cost Leadership”: Establishment of a Shared Service Center in Lodz/Poland, where transactional activities across Europe will be bundled.
• “Sustainable Cocoa”: Launch of independent, nonprofit Cocoa Horizons Foundation to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities and as a platform for chocolate companies and other contributors to invest in sustainable cocoa. More than CHF 20 million paid in farmer and farmer group premiums. Barry Callebaut partnering with The Hershey Company and Mondelez International, respectively, to support them in their sustainability commitments and with the implementation of their cocoa sustainability programs on the ground.

Regional / Segment performance

Region Europe⁴ – Strong growth momentum in Western Europe and overall significant profit improvement

The European chocolate confectionery market declined -2.6%⁵.

In contrast, Barry Callebaut managed to grow its sales volume in Region Europe by +3.9% to 763,646 tonnes, with a strong acceleration in the last quarter.

In Western Europe, the installation of additional manufacturing capacity, resolving the previous capacity constraints, allowed for additional growth. The region also gained and renewed long-term partnership agreements with leading regional food manufacturers. The Gourmet & Specialties business again performed well and achieved strong growth in the Beverages business.

In EEMEA (Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa), the Food Manufacturers business came in lower than prior year due to the loss of a large customer which was not fully compensated for by the good business with the other customers. The Gourmet & Specialties business again achieved solid volume growth, driven by excellent growth in Turkey, offset by Russia, where business suffered due to the difficult political and economic situation. 

Overall, sales revenue in Region Europe grew significantly by 11.0% in local currencies (-0.4% in CHF) to CHF 2,563.7 million also as a result of higher cocoa bean prices and increased sales of higher value products. Operating profit (EBIT) rose 19.7% in local currencies (+8.1% in CHF) to CHF 289.7 million, driven by better gross margins in Food Manufacturers and a strong contribution from Gourmet & Specialties.

Region Americas – Solid performance in a challenging market environment

Chocolate confectionery markets in the Americas had a difficult year declining -3.5%.⁵

In Region Americas, Barry Callebaut continued to deliver a solid performance. Sales volume went up by 4.7%, well above the market growth rate and accelerating in the second half of the year. In North America, sales volume growth was driven by wins of new Regional accounts in Food Manufacturers and Gourmet, especially the local Gourmet brands. The company signed an outsourcing agreement with World’s Finest® Chocolate in Chicago, thereby establishing a new manufacturing base for the Group in the attractive Midwest region, and signing a long-term supply agreement for the supply of all their chocolate needs. In South America Barry Callebaut expanded its business in both Brazil and Chile, capitalizing on recent investments in production capacity, and recorded double-digit volume growth.

Overall, sales revenue in Region Americas increased by 11.9% in local currencies (+17.1% in CHF) and amounted to CHF 1,507.9 million. The good volume growth and product mix was largely offset by investments in structures in South America. As a result, operating profit (EBIT) was flat at -0.3% in local currencies (+3.3% in CHF) and came in at CHF 130.7 million.

Region Asia Pacific – Good year with solid top- and bottom-line growth

Chocolate markets across Asia Pacific were basically flat at -0.3%.⁵

Barry Callebaut’s sales volume growth in Region Asia Pacific made headway against the market, rising by 7.2% to 68,984 tonnes. Growth was mainly driven by national accounts in Food Manufacturers and a double-digit increase in Gourmet.  Barry Callebaut is proud to have signed the first outsourcing agreement in Southeast Asia with GarudaFood Group, one of the largest food and beverage companies in Indonesia, for the delivery of an important part of their compound chocolate requirements. This deal builds on the stronger credibility of Barry Callebaut as a business partner in Asia as well as greater presence and knowledge in the Region following the acquisition of the cocoa business from Petra Foods.

Sales revenue increased by 11.2% in local currencies (+8.3% in CHF) and came in at CHF 269.8 million, fueled by higher sales volume and higher cocoa bean prices. Ongoing investments in sales and marketing capabilities to build the company’s business in this emerging region, including the new CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ center in Tokyo, led to somewhat slower EBIT growth compared to volume growth. Nonetheless, the operating profit EBIT increased 5.9% in local currencies (-0.4% in CHF) to CHF 26.9 million.

Global Cocoa – Challenging environment impacting profitability

Sales volume went up 5.1% to 496,089 tonnes, accelerating in the last quarter. Driven by higher cocoa powder prices, sales revenue grew significantly by 13.9% in local currencies (+8.2% in CHF). A challenging market environment characterized by a historically low combined cocoa ratio triggered by grinding over-capacity and low demand for cocoa products had a negative impact on profitability. As a result, Global Cocoa recorded an operating profit EBIT of CHF 47.2 million, which represents a decrease of 33.7% in local currencies (-42.4% in CHF) compared to prior year.

In response to market conditions and to fully leverage its scale in cocoa, Barry Callebaut will adapt its business model through the Cocoa Leadership project. This multi-year project, which is one of the company’s strategic initiatives announced a year ago, comprises three main building blocks: 1) differentiating and repositioning the product offering, with a focus on commercial excellence; 2) centralizing key strategic activities, such as combined cocoa ratio management;

3) optimizing the cocoa manufacturing footprint and global product flows. This includes the closure of the cocoa factory in Bangpakong, Thailand, by the end of January 2016, and the immediate reduction of production capacity in Port Klang/Malaysia.  

Raw material price developments

Despite a supply surplus for the 2014/15 cocoa season, cocoa bean prices further increased in fiscal year 2014/15 by around +5% to GBP 2,101 on August 28, 2015. In a volatile price environment, a shortfall in cocoa production in Ghana was more than compensated for by a slowdown in cocoa grinding (circa -4% year-on-year) and a record mid-crop out of Ivory Coast.

Low market prices did not impact global milk powder production, which remained stable at high levels globally. Demand for milk powder did not recover, resulting in the lowest prices since 2009 in the EU and since 2002 on the world market after a short rally. Prices closed around 15% lower than prior year.

The world sugar market continued its downward trend, reaching on August 24, 2015 its lowest point since 2008. The constant weakness of the Brazilian Real (weakest level since 2002) together with over-supply and the short position of funds were the main drivers of this price fall. In Europe, the reduction of preferential imports have eroded stock levels to 1.2 million tonnes vs 2 million tonnes for the previous year, leading to a price recovery.

Change at the helm of Barry Callebaut

On October 1, 2015, Antoine de Saint-Affrique took over from Juergen Steinemann as CEO of Barry Callebaut. As communicated earlier, Antoine de Saint-Affrique joined Barry Callebaut from Unilever, where he was President Foods and Member of the Group Executive Committee.

The Board of Directors and the Jacobs family are very grateful to Juergen Steinemann for his outstanding leadership and significant achievements since joining Barry Callebaut in 2009. Juergen Steinemann will continue to serve on the Board of Barry Callebaut.

Proposals to the Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Payout to shareholders
The Board of Directors will propose a payout to shareholders of CHF 14.50 per share at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on December 9, 2015. This represents a stable payout ratio of 33% of the net profit. Again, the payout will be effected through a dividend payment from reserves from capital contributions. The distribution of these funds to shareholders will not be subject to withholding tax and – for individuals who are taxed in Switzerland and hold the shares privately – income tax. The dividend will be paid to shareholders on March 2, 2016, subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

Board of Directors
All Board members – Andreas Jacobs, Fernando Aguirre, Jakob Baer, James L. Donald, Nicolas Jacobs, Timothy E. Minges, Andreas Schmid, Juergen B. Steinemann and Wai Ling “Winnie” Liu – will stand for re-election for another term of office of one year.

The Board proposes to the shareholders the election of Patrick De Maeseneire (born 1957, Belgian national) as new Board member and Vice Chairman. Patrick De Maeseneire served as CEO of Barry Callebaut from 2002-2009, as CEO of Adecco from 2009-2015 and has been appointed CEO of Jacobs Holding as of November 4, 2015.

^{1 On average for the 3-year period 2015/16 to 2017/18, barring any major unforeseen events}

^{2 The global chocolate confectionery market decreased by -2.7% in volume. Source: Nielsen, September 2014 – August 2015}

^{3 The Barry Callebaut Group passes on raw material prices to customers for the majority of its business.}

^{4 Renamed Region EMEA as of October 1, 2015}

^{5 Source: Nielsen, September 2014 – August 2015}

***

Further information is available in the following publications available as of today:

• Annual Report 2014/15 (micro-)website: www.barry-callebaut.com/annual-report

• Annual Report 2014/15 (PDF): www.barry-callebaut.com/documentation

Short Report 2014/15 (English and German): annual-report.barry-callebaut.com