According to The Mainichi Daily News, Lotte Holdings Co. is negotiating to acquire Barry Callebaut’s consumer chocolate division, Stollwerck, through a joint company to be set up with Natra. The acquisition would allow Lotte to expand its business into Europe. The article states that the amount of the purchase may be in the range of tens of billions of yen.

If the acquisition is completed, Barry Callebaut would provide chocolate ingredients, including cacao beans, to the joint company, which would give Lotte a stable supply.