Tony Loeb

🍫 Barry Callebaut Group, a global leader in chocolate and cocoa products, plans to significantly expand its production capacity in the United States as part of a strategy to strengthen its supply network in North America. In the first half of fiscal 2024/25 (ending February 28, 2025), sales volume reached 1,085,048 tonnes, a 4.7% decrease, while revenue hit CHF 7.287,1 million, a 63.1% increase in local currencies (56.9% in CHF). Recurring EBIT was CHF 329.6 million, up 1.5% in local currencies (down 2.9% in CHF), and net recurring profit fell to CHF 63.5 million (down 69.4% in local currencies), impacted by higher financing costs and market backwardation. Cocoa bean prices surged 95% year-over-year, while global sugar prices dropped 20%, and dairy product prices increased by 1%. Latin America saw a 7.5% growth; Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) grew by 1.8%, and North America experienced a 2.3% volume decrease. Global Chocolate sales volumes fell 4.5%, Food Manufacturers were hit with a 5.6% decrease, and the Gourmet segment grew by 0.7%.