Barry Callebaut has opened a new state-of-the-art chocolate factory in Monterrey, Mexico. Besides being the company’s third-largest chocolate production facility, with an annual production capacity of around 100,000 tons, the location allows the company to work with confectioners in the Mexican market, the southern United States, Central America and South America. The $40-million factory is designed to produce compound, liquid and moulded chocolate, and is expected to reach full capacity within five years.

“Our new chocolate factory in Monterrey, Mexico, will enable Barry Callebaut to move closer to its growing customer base of multinational and local food manufacturers in this region,” explains Patrick De Maeseneire, ceo of Barry Callebaut. “Chocolate confectionery in Mexico is expected to grow on average by 6.5% per year in value terms over the next five years. These growth projections make the Mexican market a very attractive investment for Barry Callebaut.”