Barry Callebaut - food industry company news 
SINGAPORE: Improved sales, margins boost Petra Q1
16 May 2013
Singapore-based confectioner Petra Foods today (16 May) reported higher underlying first-quarter profits thanks to improved sales and margins from what is now its core consumer products business.
INDONESIA: Cargill to build cocoa facility
7 May 2013
Cargill has started building a cocoa processing plant in Indonesia to meet regional demand for cocoa products.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
15 April 2013
UK-based R&R Ice Cream last week snapped up local rival Fredericks Dairies, a deal its CEO told us will help it compete better with Unilever. We spoke to M&A analysts about the potential sale of Burton's Biscuit Co. and to the chairman of Canada's Dare Foods about his expansion plans. In Europe, the sector was rocked by fresh horsemeat revelations, including news an Asda product contained the veterinary drug phenylbutazone.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
15 April 2013
3G Capital, the private-equity firm soon to own Heinz, last week turned to another investment - Burger King - for the US food giant's new CEO. In the UK, R&R Ice Cream, Europe's largest own-label ice cream supplier bought a local rival it said would boost its branded stable. Europe was shook by more horsemeat revelations. Meanwhile, we interviewed Sainsbury's on multichannel, Canada's Dare Foods and took a look at the possible suitors for Burton's Biscuit Co.
On the money: Integration focus for Barry Callebaut
8 April 2013
Barry Callebaut plans to focus more on integrating recent acquisitions and supply deals this year than buying businesses or striking more supply deals, the chocolate group's CEO has told just-food.
SWITZ: Barry Callebaut H1 profits miss analyst forecasts
8 April 2013
Shares in Barry Callebaut, the world's largest B2B chocolate maker, fell today (8 April) after the Swiss group's first-half earnings fell below analyst estimates.
FRANCE: Chocolaterie de Bourgogne eyes private label contracts
4 April 2013
France's Chocolaterie de Bourgogne is looking for domestic and foreign private-label contracts to diversify its business.
Consuming issues - Cocoa's certification challenge
3 April 2013
Hershey's commitment to source 100% of its cocoa requirements from third-party-certified sources by 2020 has been broadly welcomed. However, what form that certification will take is unclear and is likely to remain so until the cocoa sector at large agrees sustainability standards and evolves the means to certify a huge amount of cocoa.
EXCLUSIVE: CAGE: Barry Callebaut brushes off concerns over Petra Foods
21 March 2013
B2B chocolate giant Barry Callebaut has sought to cool concerns over the recent performance of Singapore peer Petra Foods and the over-capacity in Asia's cocoa sector.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
4 February 2013
just-food last week flew to Cologne to bring you the news and views from the ISM confectionery trade show. Here, we spoke with manufacturers including Barry Callebaut, Guylian and United Confectioners, amongst others. Elsewhere, earnings results poured in with Hershey outlining its ambitions for global expansion and Mead Johnson highlighting its progress in China.
just the answer: Barry Callebaut marketing director for Western Europe, Sofie De Lathouwer
31 January 2013
Since selling its consumer units over the last few years, business-to-business chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has been treading a new path focused on its "core" business with industrial and artisanal customers. Michelle Russell caught up with Barry Callebaut marketing director for Western Europe, Sofie De Lathouwer at this year's ISM confectionery show in Cologne to find out more about its strategy for growth.
just-food's outlook for 2013: Mega deals unlikely as consolidation continues
31 January 2013
There may be caution over the prospect for blockbuster deals in a dilapidated economic environment, but the food sector mergers and acquisitions table still has plenty to whet the appetite.
ISM: Barry Callebaut adds to Terra Cacao line
28 January 2013
Confectionery giant Barry Callebaut has extended its Terra Cacao chocolate line with the launch of two additional products.
SWITZERLAND: Barry Callebaut ups RSPO palm oil offering
23 January 2013
Swiss chocolate group Barry Callebaut is extending its commitment to use palm oil from sustainable sources.
Best bits: Horse meat saga continues, confectioners hit sweet spot
21 January 2013
Retailers in the UK and Ireland faced some difficult questions last week, when it emerged that horse and pig DNA had been discovered in beefburgers and "beef" ready meals.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
21 January 2013
News that Flowers Food has emerged as the "stalking horse" bidder for various Hostess Brands bread brands in the US caught our attention last week. Meanwhile, an entirely different kind of horse got tongues wagging on this side of the pond when food safety officials found horse meat had been used in the production of burgers in the UK and Ireland. There has also been a flurry of news from the confectionery sector, with Barry Callebaut, Lindt and Thorntons hitting the headlines. We can expect more from this category in the coming weeks as the industry gears up for ISM, one of the calendar's biggest trade shows. just-food will be reporting live (and possibly even indulging our sweet tooth).
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
21 January 2013
Horse meat is the topic that kept the just-food newsroom busy last week after food safety officials found horse meat had been used in the production of burgers in the UK and Ireland. Tesco was the first to announce the recall of some ranges of burgers, with other retailers quick to follow suit. Elsewhere, Flowers Food emerged as the "stalking horse" bidder for various Hostess Brands bread brands in the US, and in the UK just-food spoke with Thorntons CEO Jonathan Hart on the firm's second-quarter results and his plans for the confectionery firm going forward.
UPDATE: SWEDEN: Barry Callebaut eyes Scandinavian growth
18 January 2013
Barry Callebaut hopes to use its acquisition of ASM Foods in Sweden to act as a springboard for growth in Scandinavia.
SWEDEN: Barry Callebaut acquires Carletti's ASM Foods
18 January 2013
Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has acquired ASM Foods in Sweden from Danish confectioner Carletti.
UPDATE: SWITZ: Barry Callebaut growth skewed to emerging markets
16 January 2013
Barry Callebaut expects emerging markets to increasingly contribute a greater proportion of group sales, driven by M&A and organic growth.
SWITZ: Barry Callebaut sees flat value sales on volume gains
16 January 2013
Barry Callebaut revealed today (16 January) that first-quarter sales volumes remained flat despite a "strong" increase in volumes.
COMMENT: Lindt sweetens Europe's austerity pill
15 January 2013
As Europeans brace for more austerity in hard-hit national economies, sweet-toothed consumers have been seeking light relief in chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli.
The just-food review of 2012: Commodity swings remain part of landscape
18 December 2012
Volatility in global commodity markets remained a significant factor for the food industry during 2012. On the one hand, adverse weather conditions hit grain harvests causing prices to spike, while on the other, over-supply has meant cocoa and sugar prices have continued to fall. Katy Askew takes a look at some of the major developments on the commodities markets over the past 12 months.
The ten most-read interviews on just-food in 2012
18 December 2012
just-food's interviews with senior executives in the international food sector provide exclusive insight into how the leading lights in the industry deal with the challenges and embrace the opportunities in front of them. This year, the most-read interviews on just-food included one-on-ones with companies from General Mills and Heinz to Russian retail giant Magnit to the UK government minister responsible for food policy.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
17 December 2012
Barry Callebaut CEO Juergen Steinemann last week insisted its acquisition of Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients unit will strengthen its future with the deal making it the world's largest processor of cocoa and high-quality cocoa powder. Elsewhere, the European Commission said it would come forward with ideas for a grocery code adjudicator by next autumn if no system of self-regulation is put into place. Parmalat, meanwhile, confirmed a raid on its offices over tax investigations, and David Heath, UK minister for environment, food and rural affairs said his department was working with the UK Government to identify export priority markets.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week
17 December 2012
The top two stories on just-food's pages last week included Barry Callebaut's deal to buy Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients business and the European Commission's warning it will come forward with ideas for a grocery code adjudicator next autumn if no system of self-regulation is in place. Elsewhere, there has been a focus on the dairy sector with FrieslandCampina announcing plans to cut over 200 jobs across its business in Germany, and Parmalat having had its offices raided by Italy's financial police over an investigation into tax. We also brought you news from the FDEA's UK export event in London where just-food was an exclusive partner.
In the spotlight: Barry Callebaut believes in pricey Petra deal
13 December 2012
Increased exposure to emerging markets? Tick. Boost portfolio with more in-demand products? Tick. Barry Callebaut tried to outline the benefits of its move to buy Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients arm but the market winced at the price paid. Dean Best reports.
UPDATE: SINGAPORE: Petra deal will boost growth - Barry Callebaut
12 December 2012
Barry Callebaut CEO Juergen Steinemann has insisted the group's acquisition of Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients division will boost its growth as shares in the Swiss B2B chocolate firm fell.
SWITZ/SINGAPORE: Barry Callebaut buys Petra Foods' cocoa arm
12 December 2012
Barry Callebaut said today (12 December) it had become the world's largest cocoa processor after agreeing to buy Petra Foods' cocoa ingredients business for US$950m.
UPDATE: UK: Barry Callebaut eyes 'production optimisation'
4 December 2012
Barry Callebaut has said its move to consolidate UK chocolate production will boost efficiency.
