Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, today announced the closing of the transaction with Morinaga, one of Japan’s largest food companies with numerous established brands. The transaction involves the acquisition of cocoa and chocolate production equipment at a Morinaga facility in Amagasaki near Osaka, Japan. At the same time, the two companies entered into a 10-year supply agreement for 9,000 metric tonnes a year – doubling Barry Callebaut’s sales volumes in Japan. As previously announced, deliveries of liquid chocolate are expected to begin within the next 12 months. Barry Callebaut plans to upgrade the acquired production lines to create a total production capacity of 20,000 tonnes a year.

Barry Callebaut has been present in the Asia with a chocolate factory in Singapore since 1997, a sales office in Japan since 2004, a sales office in China since 2006 and a sales office and Chocolate Academy in India since December 2007. A new chocolate factory in Suzhou near Shanghai, China, was officially inaugurated in early January 2008.

ABOUT BARRY CALLEBAUT

With annual sales of more than CHF 4 billion for fiscal year 2006/07, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate – from the cocoa bean to the finished product on the store shelf. Barry Callebaut is present in 24 countries, operates 38 production facilities and employs approximately 8,000 people.

The company serves the entire food industry, from food manufacturers to professional users of chocolate (such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs or bakers), to global retailers. It also provides a comprehensive range of services in the fields of product development, processing, training and marketing.