Barry Callebaut Invests $19M To Relocate Japan Chocolate Factory

TAKASAKI, Japan and ZURICH, SwitzerlandBarry Callebaut has completed the relocation of its Japan chocolate factory from Amagasaki to Takasaki, representing a $19.4 million investment.

The new and larger facility offers an initial annual production capacity of 22,000 tons of chocolate and compound products. The facility is close to existing and potential new customers and will act as a local base to serve both industrial food manufacturers as well as gourmet customers in the Japanese chocolate market.

"Moving our Japanese factory to Takasaki is a strategic move which brings us closer to our customers and reinforces our priorities to partnering for innovation and mutual success," said Juergen Steinemann, CEO, Barry Callebaut.

Earlier this year, the company opened a new cocoa bean processing factory in Indonesia in partnership with local manufacturer P.T. Comextra Majora. Barry Callebaut now operates five cocoa bean processing factories, four chocolate factories, four R&D centers and three Chocolate Academy centers across the Asia-Pacific region.