The Barry Callebaut Group has broken ground on its third manufacturing facility in India.
The new chocolate and compound factory will be located in the Ghiloth industrial area, in the city of Neemrana, about 120 km southwest of Delhi. Upon completion of the new chocolate factory, India will become Barry Callebaut’s largest chocolate producing market in Region Asia Pacific. With this announcement, Barry Callebaut’s total investment in India over the last 5 years is projected to exceed CHF 50 million.
This investment reaffirms the company’s commitment to the country in the last 15 years. Since the opening of the first CHOCOLATE ACADEMY Center in Mumbai in 2007, Barry Callebaut has continuously invested in the Indian chocolate and cocoa market. Today, the company operates two factories in Baramati, producing high-quality chocolate and compound.
Jo Thys, president of Barry Callebaut in Asia Pacific, said: “As a global leader in the chocolate industry, India is a key market for Barry Callebaut in Region Asia Pacific. Our ambition in India is to become the market leader for high-quality chocolate and cocoa products. The creation of our third factory in India clearly displays Barry Callebaut’s confidence in this growth market and enables us to get even closer to our customers.”
Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, Managing Director for Barry Callebaut India, said: “India is among the fastest growing chocolate markets in the world. Over the years, we have invested significantly in our local manufacturing and sales capabilities, which positions us well for the future. The new factory will act as a northern hub, bring us closer to customers and create opportunities for us to introduce our high-quality products and industry-leading innovations.”
The new greenfield facility in Neemrana will cover a total of 20,000m2 and is scheduled to be operational in 2024. The new chocolate factory will include state-of-the-art assembly lines capable of manufacturing chocolate and compound in different delivery formats, catering to the various needs of its customers – international food manufacturers, local confectioneries and semi-industrial bakers and patisseries. The new facility will also house a warehouse and a research & development laboratory.