• New state-of-the-art facility for developing individual product solutions and innovations together with customers in response to changing consumer tastes
• Part of Barry Callebaut’s strong global research and development capabilities and facilities of 18 Chocolate Academy™ centers, 12 Application Centers and 19 Pilot Plants

To further strengthen innovation in the region the Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of high quality chocolate and cocoa products, today announced the opening of its first Cocoa Application Center in Asia Pacific. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, a demo kitchen, a small-scale production line and additional workspace areas and represents an investment of USD 200,000. It extends Barry Callebaut’s offering to industrial customers by providing prototype and concept development, product and process troubleshooting and sensory evaluation. In addition, the center offers technical assistance and training for cocoa products as well as cocoa product and ingredient research.

Located in Pasir Gudang (in the state of Johor, Malaysia), the center is adjacent to one of Barry Callebaut’s largest cocoa factories in Asia Pacific where cocoa ingredients (liquor, butter and powder) are easily available. This proximity to cocoa ingredients, as well as the sensory experts at the factory, will facilitate the frequent testing and tasting required in the creation of new products, applications and processes.

New Cocoa Application Center as platform to co-create the products of tomorrow

Peter Boone, Chief Innovation & Quality Officer of the Barry Callebaut Group, said: “With rising incomes in Asia Pacific, consumer taste is evolving; they are asking for more sophisticated flavors and colors. Cocoa, like no other ingredient, can give them this. In our new Cocoa Application Center in Pasir Gudang, we will work closely with our industrial customers to co-create the consumer products of tomorrow: unique products that taste delicious, look appealing and are easy to process.” 

Edmund Ee, Barry Callebaut’s President for Cocoa Asia Pacific, added: “Barry Callebaut has the longest experience in cocoa manufacturing, and its premium powder brand Bensdorp™ will celebrate its 175^th anniversary this year. Building upon this strong European heritage, our new Cocoa Application Center in Asia Pacific reflects our strategic commitment to innovation and to creating value-added services for our customers. Our expertise in innovation, coupled with their market know-how, will enable our customers to differentiate their products and to drive future growth.”

Part of Barry Callebaut’s global R&D and innovation capabilities

The new Cocoa Application Center in Pasir Gudang can draw upon the expertise and resources of the Barry Callebaut Group’s strong global research and development capabilities and facilities of 18 Chocolate Academy™ centers, 12 Application Centers and 19 Pilot Plants. It will initially focus on beverage, bakery, confectionery and ice cream applications as well as the potential offered by cocoa ingredients in these products, and build its capabilities in color, flavor matching and enhancement.

In Asia Pacific, Barry Callebaut has a total of four Application Centers as well as nine chocolate and cocoa factories. In addition to the new Cocoa Application Center in Pasir Gudang, Barry Callebaut also operates a Cocoa Research Center in Selborne Estate (in the state of Pahang, Malaysia) which focuses on research into inter-cropping, pest and disease management and soil management to promote increased productivity and biodiversity at cocoa farm level.

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About Barry Callebaut Group:
With annual sales of about CHF 5.9 billion (EUR 4.8 billion / USD 6.5 billion) in fiscal year 2013/14, the Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds. The Group runs more than 50 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of over 9,300 people.
The Barry Callebaut Group serves the entire food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers. The two global brands catering to the specific needs of these Gourmet customers are Callebaut^® and Cacao Barry^®.
The Barry Callebaut Group is committed to sustainable cocoa production through its “Cocoa Horizons” initiative to help ensure future supplies of cocoa as well as improve farmer livelihoods.