ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Barry Callebaut on Sept. 3 inaugurated a new, joint cocoa processing facility in Makassar. The facility will be operated as part of a joint venture called P.T. Barry Callebaut Comextra Indonesia. Barry Callebaut owns 60%, and P.T. Comextra Majora owns 40% of the joint venture company.
The $33 million cocoa facility in Makassar will have an initial annual grinding capacity of 30,000 tonnes. It is supported by a long-term bean supply agreement with P.T Comextra Majora.
Barry Callebaut said the opening is part of its effort to further enhance its manufacturing footprint in fast-growing Asian markets. Besides the newly built Makassar site, the company has four other cocoa plants and four chocolate plants in the region.
“The new facility in Makassar built jointly with our partner P.T. Comextra Majora opens new cocoa sourcing possibilities and further strengthens our overall manufacturing footprint in our Region Asia-Pacific,” said Juergen Steinemann, chief executive officer of Barry Callebaut. “Together with earlier investments and the recently acquired cocoa factories from Petra Foods in Asia, we are able to offer the best factory structure and support in a region where demand for quality cocoa and chocolate products is growing rapidly.”
Jimmy Wisan, c.e.o. of P.T. Comextra Majora and president commissioner of the joint venture P.T. Barry Callebaut Comextra Indonesia, said the partnership is a natural extension of the long-standing business relationship with Barry Callebaut.
“Our businesses complement each other, and the partnership will harness the strengths of both companies,” he said. “Barry Callebaut will be responsible for the operations and will purchase the manufactured products while P.T. Comextra Majora will supply the new facility with cocoa beans under a long-term supply agreement.”
