The world’s largest chocolate producer, Barry Callebaut, has reported healthy fiscal year figures despite the strong franc impacting on sales and operating profit.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch and agencies
Net profit in the 12 months leading up to August 31 was SFr258.9 million ($284.9 million), a nine per cent increase on the previous year in the reporting currency of Swiss francs and a 19.8 per cent increase in local currencies. Turnover rose slightly by 0.7 per cent to SFr4.5 billion, and by 13 per cent in local currencies.
The company said growth was driven by higher demand for specialties products and fillings. Its Gourmet brand business was particularly strong in Asia-Pacific and Europe.
In Western Europe, the chocolate confectionery market was slightly negative in terms of volume growth (-0.3 per cent) towards the end of the fiscal year. In Eastern Europe the chocolate market grew by seven per cent.
CEO Jürgen Steinemann said it was “a particularly great result” in light of recent political upheaval in Ivory Coast, the leading producer of cocoa beans. He said he expected the market to grow further next year but at a lower rate, with raw material prices due to stay high and remain volatile.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
NGOs slam industry inaction over child labour
This content was published on
Non-governmental organisations say the Harkin-Engel Protocol signed on September 19, 2001 by eight top companies – including Swiss groups Nestlé and Barry Callebaut – has not been adequately enforced and now needs to be legally binding to make a difference. The international coalition of NGOs, 10-Campaign, say importing countries must also do their part by…
This content was published on
Last week Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara ordered a month-long ban on cocoa exports to cut funds from his rival for the presidency, incumbent Gbagbo. Swiss chocolate producers meanwhile downplay their role in the country. Online activist group Avaaz.org ran an advert in last Saturday’s Financial Times calling on Swiss food giant Nestlé and…
This content was published on
Patrick de Maeseneire, CEO of the Zurich-based Barry-Callebaut company – the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer – told the Handelszeitung newspaper that a 100g bar could go up in price by 12 per cent. He blamed higher prices of raw materials in particular for the expected rises. “I’m not surprised because the price of cocoa is…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.