Barry Callebaut confirms strong growth for certified products
Barry Callebaut has confirmed a marked increase in the demand for certified cocoa and chocolate products, sparked by strong consumer demand for responsibly produced chocolate’.
The company says that it welcomes this evolution, given its commitment to developing a more sustainable cocoa sector, beginning with local growers. The Group expects that the sale of certified products will continue to grow significantly in 2010.
With over 17 years of experience in certified cocoa and chocolate, Barry Callebaut began with certification programs long before present-day interest appeared and is a strong global supplier of certified products for the food industry with more than 100 product references of certified chocolates and cocoa powder.
Its projects include developments for Fairtrade, Organic, UTZ certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified products. The group further offers “Fair for Life” certified products through its subsidiary Biolands. It launched its own Quality Partner Program in Cote d’Ivoire in 2005.
Hans Vriens, chief innovation officer at Barry Callebaut, says “While demand for organic certified chocolate has been growing steadily over the past ten years, we have seen a jump of more than 50% in the demand for fairtrade certified products in 2009 and an increase of 12% in certified products volume overall. These growth rates are significantly ahead of chocolate market growth rates.”
Juergen B. Steinemann, CEO, adds, “Focusing on sustainability is more than a mere optional extra for us; it is an imperative. In order to meet the rising demand for cocoa and chocolate, we must contribute to ensuring that cocoa is grown in a sustainable manner; one that generates income for farmers while also safeguarding the environment. The aim is to secure both the income of small cocoa farmers and the natural balance of the surrounding environment.”
