Barry Callebaut to acquire Chocovic
Barry Callebaut has signed an agreement with the Nederland Group to acquire Spanish chocolate maker Chocovic that specialises in chocolate and specialty products for industrial and artisanal customers. The current owners will retain ownership of the other activities of the Nederland Group, which include Moner Cocoa and cocoa processing company Nederland.
Chocovic, with a corporate history of more than 130 years, has a factory in Gurb, north of Barcelona, Spain. The company makes about 30,000 tonnes of chocolate and specialty products per year, has annual sales of €60 million and employs about 120 people. Chocovic also owns “Aula Chocovic”, a chocolate academy, which offers trainings for professionals and gives technical support to the commercial team.
The company has two well-known brand names ” Chocovic and Novacrem ” in the Spanish market and these will be maintained. Juergen Steinemann, CEO of Barry Callebaut, says, “With our reconfirmed focus on our core activities with industrial and artisanal customers we now fully concentrate on expanding our existing business. Chocovic will strengthen our position in Spain and we will use it especially as a platform to further build our Gourmet business.”
