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368742
Tue, 05/26/2015 - 06:57
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Barry Callebaut Aims To Penetrate Six Emerging Markets Globally

BUKIT TINGGI (Pahang, Malaysia), May 26 (Bernama) -- Barry Callebaut, the leading manufacturer of high quality chocolate and chocolate products aims to penetrate six emerging markets, namely Indonesia, China, India, Turkey, Brazil and Poland. Vice president, Cocoa Asia Pacific Richard Fahey said the growth volume of these emerging markets was above average and between three to 11 per cent on an annual basis. "They are fast growing markets, thanks to an expanding middle income group, especially in China and Indonesia. As at Aug 31, 2014, the sales volume for the Asia Pacific was 64.322 metric tonnes or US$264.044 million (RM954.961 million)," he added. Barry Callebaut's global sales volume for the same period stood at 1.7 million metric tonnes or US$6.231 billion (RM22.536 billion). (US$1 = RM3.61) The Swiss company also plans to increase cocoa yields and improve the quality of beans to meet the growing global demand for chocolate. The chocolate maker has collaborated with Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) in setting up KLK Selborne Estate, a agronomy research programme, spread across 12 hectares of land to support the development and improvement of cocoa farming across Southeast Asia. Under the programme, Barry Callebaut has initiated a Cocoa Research Centre, which comprises an agronomy and fermentation laboratories, cocoa bean fermentation and drying facilities. Asked if Barry Callebaut would continue leveraging on KLK's cocoa plantations, Fahey said the company is keen to work closely with the plantation entity in growing the crop in Malaysia. He added that the plan is still at a preliminary stage. "Presently, cocoa from KLK plantations contributes 100 tonnes on an annual basis, and that amount accounts for only one or two per cent of our factory activities," Fahey said. He said the company is also interested in working with other local plantation companies to increase cocoa production in Malaysia. "But, this depends on the attractiveness of the return on investment. "For example, we are involved in ground activities through the CocoaAction programme in West Africa and have spent about RM53.564 million to assist local farmers increase their productivity. "In return, it creates a sense of loyalty and farmers sell their cocoa to us," he told reporters on the sidelines of a media familiarisation programme. Malaysia's cocoa plantations have declined significantly from 33,994 hectares in 2005 to 16,070 hectares last year. Smallholders contributed 15,243 hectares to this number, while estates stood at 827 hectares. Back in 1980, the cultivated area for cocoa across the country stood at 123,855 hectares. -- BERNAMA

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