Barry Callebaut celebrates opening new Singapore regional asian headquarters

A major Asian investment has been made by Barry Callebaut, as CEO Peter Boone officially unveiling its new regional headquarters in Singapore based at the OUE Downtown 2 building, writes Neill Barston.

According to the business, its latest facility will strengthen its position in the market, where it has been present for the past 25 years, serving the regional chocolate and cocoa market.

As the Swiss-headquartered firm noted, its Asia Pacific office of Barry Callebaut has been headquartered in Singapore since 2014, previously located at Millenia Tower. Singapore continues to serve as a key geographic hub to anchor the company’s growth, innovation, and digitalisation goals. Especially over the last three years, the company has seen new offices and factories in Australia, China, India, and Indonesia.

Jo Thys, Barry Callebaut’s President for Asia Pacific welcomed its latest facilities, which he believed are set to have a notable impact on the business. He commented:  “The inauguration of our new regional headquarters represents our next chapter of sustainable growth, and reaffirms Barry Callebaut’s commitment to invest and develop in Singapore for the long-term. We look forward to continuing working with the government, trade organizations and our customers and partners to realise our ambition of becoming the responsible chocolate and cocoa leader in this region,

The company also operates a chocolate factory in Senoko South Road in Singapore. The facility is the first and the largest industrial chocolate factory in the country. Today the company has more than 250 employees in Singapore and its regional headquarters also houses its regional sales, supply chain management, and corporate functions teams.

As the company added, its new site and accommodates the business growth strategy with new technological features and welfare facilities to prioritise the well-being of its staff. The firm has now brought in a hybrid model, where many of its employees are able to work from home.

US company anniversary

Meanwhile, in the US, Barry Callebaut also recently had occasion to celebrate, as its American regional HQ in Chicago marked its 15th birthday this month, as its presence continues to grow.

The company’s site at its River North location at the Montgomery Ward Building, now known as the Groupon Building, originally employed at team of 36 employees with 11,207 square feet of space on its opening in 2007. Fast forward to today, following a major renovation in 2020, the office and its chocolate academy now has 56,478 square feet of space, five times bigger than its original size, and more than 200 employees.

Steve Woolley, Americas’ President & CEO, said: “We selected Chicago, our country’s candy capital, as our regional headquarters with the goal of becoming a leader in the North American market. Over the past 15 years, we have not only achieved becoming North America’s number 1 chocolate manufacturer, but we also have seen huge success in volume growth and innovations. Barry Callebaut is leading the way for the chocolate industry, and I can only imagine what we’ll accomplish with a continued growth-mindset and people-focused strategy.”

 

 

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