Expected to open in mid-2020, the supplier broke ground in late July on the Baramati facility, which will produce 30k tons of chocolate and compound annually.
Located about 250km southeast of Mumbai, the 20k-square-metre factory will feature modern assembly line equipped for several delivery formats, employing more than 100 people mostly in engineering and production roles.
It will serve international food manufacturers, local confectioneries and semi-industrial bakers and patisseries. An R&D lab will complement Barry Callebaut’s Chocolate Academy Centre in Mumbai – in an effort ‘to create innovative chocolate for local consumers.’
The investment in India is a direct result of the country’s ‘rapidly developing demand for high-quality chocolate.’ According to Nielsen, sales of chocolate jumped by a CAGR of more than 6% in the past five years, and experts expect the market will continue to flourish.
Barry Callebaut recently launched its ruby chocolate there, as well as a locally-produced version of its Van Houten Professional line. “India is an exciting market where innovation in chocolate is well received by consumers,” said Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, Managing Director for Barry Callebaut India.
“Our confidence in the future development of the chocolate market in India, together with the desire to better serve our customers in India, has prompted the expansion of our footprint and services.”
According to Ben De Schryver, President of Barry Callebaut Asia Pacific, the Baramati factory will be one of the supplier’s biggest locations in Asia. “It will enable us to meet customers growing demands for high-quality chocolate in India,” he said.
