The world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, Barry Callebaut, opens a state-of-art factory in Novi Sad. The company invested €55 million in the factory that has an initial annual production capacity of over 50.000 tonnes of chocolate. The production plant in Novi Sad will serve as a regional hub from which Barry Callebaut can address the rapidly growing chocolate markets of Southeastern Europe.

Photo: Barry Callebaut

Today, the Barry Callebaut Group officially inaugurated its new chocolate factory in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was present at the inauguration, at the invitation of Peter Boone, CEO of the Barry Callebaut Group. The visit, including an inauguration ceremony and a factory tour, was conducted in compliance with the strict COVID-19 measures that Barry Callebaut applies to maintain a high level of safety for its people.

The state-of-the-art factory, which represents a total investment of € 55 million, has an initial annual production capacity of over 50.000 tonnes of chocolate. It allows Barry Callebaut to supply customers with a wide range of chocolate, compound, and filling products. The factory will serve as a regional hub from which Barry Callebaut can address the rapidly growing chocolate markets of Southeastern Europe and beyond.

Since the groundbreaking ceremony in early March 2020, construction work progressed rapidly and was completed in March 2021.

Photo: Government of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina

“Novi Sad is the perfect location for us. I am pleased with the successful start and am confident that from Novi Sad we can address the rapidly growing chocolate markets of Southeastern Europe and become the solution provider of choice for customers in the region”, said Peter Boone, CEO of the Barry Callebaut Group.

President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić said how proud he is to be present for the Grand opening, of a chocolate factory of one of the most famous and the leaders when it comes to the quality of chocolate – Swiss company Barry Callebaut.

“It is important for us now to additionally invest in technical universities in Novi Sad, Vojvodina and in the north of Serbia, and to do everything possible to make people understand that when they finish their schools, that they can get a really good job. We are thankful to Barry Callebaut for hiring such a highly-skilled workforce”, concluded President Vučić.  

With annual sales of about CHF 6.9 billion (EUR 6.4 billion / USD 7.1 billion) in the fiscal year 2019/20, 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 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 12.000 people.

Photo: Barry Callebaut