• World's leading manufacturer of chocolate ceremonially opened the first German Chocolate AcademyTM center in the Cologne MediaPark
• The new Chocolate Academy™ center offers first-class trainings for chocolate professionals, for example confectionery and French pastry courses or cake design courses.
• The spectacular show “From the cocoa bean to chocolate” showed the way from the cocoa bean to the finish sweet seduction
• Internationally renowned “Chocolate Ambassadors” presented extraordinary chocolate creations

On Wednesday, Barry Callebaut opened the first German Chocolate Academy™ center with an impressive show in the Cologne MediaPark. The world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products welcomed more than 250 guests from business, politics and media to the event center “Komed” to celebrate a special evening fully dedicated to the fascinating chocolate artisanry. As the most important partner for kitchen and pastry chefs, chocolatiers, bakers and caterers, Callebaut, the Belgian chocolate brand of Barry Callebaut, represented one of the largest supporters of chocolate artisanry. Top-class was also the grand opening show with the slogan “From the cocoa bean to chocolate”, developed by internationally renowned Callebaut Ambassadors.

“In the Chocolate Academy™ center, chocolate artisanry and chocolate become one”

“At our new Chocolate Academy^TM center, chocolate artisanry and chocolate art come together. Therefore, we presented both sides to our guests – on the one hand the manufacturing of high-quality chocolate from the cocoa bean to the finished product and, on the other hand, the fine art of developing innovative and filigree chocolate and cocoa creations”, says Vera Becker, head of the Chocolate Academy^TM center in Cologne, explaining the concept of the opening show.

Spectacular show “From the cocoa bean to chocolate”

The presentation began with the most important ingredient of high-quality chocolate – the cocoa fruit. During the show, craftsmen opened yellow and red cocoa fruits and offered a taste of aromatic cocoa beans and sweet fruit pulp. Afterwards, guests were able to experience the process of tropical cocoa fruits develop into tempting chocolate along various stops: from the selection of exquisite cocoa beans, the aromatic roasting and grinding of the beans to the tempering of conched chocolate.

Internationally awarded Callebaut Ambassadors created luxurious desserts

The subject “chocolate art” was presented by international Ambassadors, representing the renowned gourmet chocolate brand Callebaut®. The Callebaut® Ambassadors are a unique network of international chocolate experts with more than 170 chefs, chefs de patissier, master bakers and confectioners. For the grand opening of the Chocolate Academy^TM center in Cologne, six of the Callebaut Ambassadors created six extraordinary desserts. Among them were Steffen Blunck and Matthias Ludwigs, two top-class masters of confectionery and the multi-award-winning chocolatier Lothar Buss. The chocolate creations were based on the individual production steps of cocoa, starting with the cocoa fruit and finishing with chocolate. Among the presented desserts was a dessert based on cocoa fruit pulp and a dessert variation with fermented and roasted cocoa beans.

“The German Chocolate Academy™ center will provide an important contribution to the international network”

Philipp Schoeller, Director of the Barry Callebaut Deutschland GmbH, explains: “We are proud to open one of our excellent Chocolate Academy^TM centers in Germany because Germany is one of the most important markets for chocolate artisanry. Finally, we can offer trainings and courses regarding the refining of individual cocoa and chocolate creations on the level of first-class gastronomy. That way, we provide an important contribution to the know-how of German chocolate specialists.” With 18 training centers in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australia, the Barry Callebaut group has the largest network of training facilities for chocolate professionals worldwide. Last year, about 38.000 participants followed trainings and took courses.

The Academy in Cologne offers first-class trainings

The new Chocolate Academy™ center in the Cologne MediaPark offers the entire range of trainings to chocolate professionals: With a large variety of courses around chocolate, from confectionary and French pastry courses to cake design courses, the Academy in Cologne is the first address for trainings regarding the chocolate artisanry. Internationally recognized teachers will lead those courses. Among them are top chefs Steffen Blunck, Lothar Buss and Matthias Ludwigs, who also showed their know-how at the grand opening. “We want to teach the right techniques to each participant and sensitize them for the newest chocolate trends, for example for the increasing demand of high-quality and personalized products,” says Vera Becker, head of the Chocolate Academy™ center in Cologne, explaining the aim of the new Academy.

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About Callebaut (www.callebaut.com):
For more than 100 years, Callebaut has been making chocolate in the heart of Belgium and is still one of the rare chocolate makers to select, roast and grind cacao beans into its own secret and exclusive cocoa mass – the most important ingredient for chocolate couvertures. Callebaut was established in 1850 in Belgium as a malt brewery and dairy company. It produced its first chocolate bars in 1911 and began production of chocolate couverture for Belgian chocolatiers soon after. Callebaut began exporting its products in 1950 to craftsmen all over the world and is part of Barry Callebaut, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate.

Barry Callebaut:
With annual sales of about CHF 5.9 billion (EUR 4.8 billion / USD 6.5 billion) in fiscal year 2013/14, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut 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 company runs more than 50 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of over 9.300 people.
Barry Callebaut 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.
Barry Callebaut is committed to a sustainable cocoa production through its “Cocoa Horizons” initiative, and to help ensure future supplies of cocoa as well as improve farmer livelihoods.