Barry Callebaut continued to deliver dynamic sales growth in the first nine months of 
the current fiscal year as sales volumes rose to 872,993 tonnes, which corresponds to a 
growth rate of 10.0% – more than three times the growth rate of the global chocolate 
market. The implementation of the major outsourcing deals that were signed last year is 
on track. Sales volumes were also driven by new contracts with new and existing 
industrial and artisanal customers, in all regions. This additional business more than 
compensated for the impact of a shorter pre-Easter selling season due to an 
exceptionally early Easter in 2008. The resulting volume decline in March was followed 
by higher volumes in the subsequent months, leading to very strong volume growth in the 
third quarter. Sales revenue rose by 18.6% to CHF 3,608.6 million in the first nine 
months of fiscal year 2007/08. Revenues were positively affected by historically high 
raw material prices and negatively impacted by a weakening USD and GBP against the EUR 
and CHF. These unfavorable exchange rate developments have started to weigh on exports 
of Gourmet chocolate from continental Europe to the U.S., the UK and Asia. Therefore, 
Barry Callebaut is about to launch a locally produced Gourmet line in the U.S. and in 
Asia.

Outlook
Patrick De Maeseneire, CEO of Barry Callebaut, said: “Barry Callebaut is in a phase of 
intensive geographic expansion, building a platform for profitable and above-average 
growth over the next five years. The focus on our regional organization is paying off 
and volumes will continue to significantly outpace the global chocolate market. The food 
industry faces increasing cost pressure from high raw materials and energy prices and 
inflation as well as economic uncertainties. In addition, exchange rates and interest 
rates remain unfavorable. In light of these challenges, we have intensified our efforts 
to improve efficiency and launched cost savings programs across the Group. With these 
measures in place we are confident that we will reach our four-year financial targets 
over the period 2007/08-2010/11, barring any major unforeseen events.”


Overview of sales performance by region in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007/08

Region Europe
Region Europe achieved sales volume growth of 8.6% to 604,207 tonnes, driven by good 
demand from industrial and artisanal customers. Sales revenue in Region Europe rose by 
19.8% to CHF 2,709.2 million, partly as a result of exchange rate effects and higher 
cocoa bean prices compared to the prior-year period. 

Food Manufacturers benefited from additional outsourcing volumes with existing customers 
in Western Europe and new contracts in Eastern Europe. The factory in Dijon, France, has 
been expanded by a Center of Excellence and installations for the production of 
compound. The new factory in Russia is now fully operational. Volume growth in Gourmet & 
Specialties was good, especially in the traditional Gourmet markets. To further develop 
this strategic business, the direct sales force was strengthened and a Chocolate Academy 
was opened in Zundert, the Netherlands, as an additional training and marketing platform 
for artisanal customers. Sales revenue at Consumer Products Europe was lower due to the 
unusually short pre-Easter selling season, as mentioned earlier.

Region Americas
Sales volumes in Region Americas increased by 17.6% to 211,708 tonnes. As a result sales 
revenue in the region grew to CHF 668.0 million, up 19.6%. At constant currencies, sales 
revenue increased 28.4%.

The substantial growth in the Food Manufacturers business unit came partly from the 
volumes delivered to Hershey under the existing long-term supply agreement but also from 
new customers, both large and mid-sized. The chocolate factory under construction in 
Mexico is well on track. First trial runs are expected to happen this summer. Production 
from the cocoa factory in Swedesboro, NJ, is currently being shifted to the new cocoa 
factory acquired from FPI in Eddystone, PA, in December 2007. This move is expected to 
be completed by the end of the calendar year 2008. The Gourmet & Specialties business 
unit also recorded significant growth despite unfavorable exchange rates as the strong 
EUR relative to the USD increased the cost of imported Gourmet products from Europe. In 
order to strengthen the relationship with artisanal customers, a new Chocolate Academy 
will be opened in Chicago in the fall of 2008. Both business units are now ideally 
positioned for accelerated growth in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2007/08 and 
onwards.

Region Asia & Rest of the World
Sales volumes in Region Asia & Rest of the World were flat at 57,078 tonnes. Volumes 
were affected by the sale of the Ivorian consumer products subsidiary SN Chocodi SA in 
February 2008 and the Senegalese consumer products subsidiary Chocosen in February 2007. 
Excluding the African consumer business, sales volume growth was 8.0%. For Region Asia & 
Rest of the World sales revenue grew by 3.8% to CHF 231.4 million.

As additional production capacities are now available at the new chocolate factory in 
China, volumes at the Food Manufacturers business unit in Region Asia are growing 
exponentially. Volume growth will further accelerate in the fourth quarter. Preparations 
for the first chocolate deliveries to Morinaga in Japan, scheduled for early 2009, are 
underway. Gourmet & Specialties continued to experience high demand across all Gourmet 
brands. The integration of the recently acquired 60% participation in KLK Cocoa has been 
completed.

Mit einem Jahresumsatz von etwa CHF 4.9 Milliarden / EUR 3.2 Milliarden / USD 
4.3 Milliarden für das Geschäftsjahr 2008/09 ist die in Zürich ansässige Barry 
Callebaut der weltweit grösste Hersteller von hochwertigen Kakao- und 
Schokoladenprodukten – von der Kakaobohne bis zum fertigen Produkt im 
Verkaufsregal. 

Barry Callebaut ist in 26 Ländern präsent, unterhält ungefähr 40
Produktionsstandorte und beschäftigt rund 7,500 Mitarbeitende. Das Unternehmen 
steht im Dienst der gesamten Nahrungsmittelindustrie – von industriellen 
Nahrungsmittelherstellern über gewerbliche Anwender von Schokolade wie 
Chocolatiers, Confiseure oder Bäcker bis hin zu internationalen 
Einzelhandelskonzernen. 

Barry Callebaut ist weltweit führend in der Innovation von Kakao und Schokolade 
und bietet eine Reihe von Dienstleistungen in den Bereichen Produktentwicklung 
und - verarbeitung, Schulung sowie Marketing an. Das Unternehmen engagiert sich 
aktiv für Initiativen und Projekte, die zu einer nachhaltigeren Versorgungskette 
für Kakao beitragen.

Publisher:
swiss-press.com

Branche:
Hotellerie/Gastronomie
Hotellerie/Gastronomie
Kontakt:
Barry Callebaut AG / Essen.ch

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