Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has started construction work on a production facility in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, about 90 kilometres northwest of Belgrade.
The facility, to be completed in 12 months, will have an annual production capacity of over 50,000 tonnes, reports Beta.
Barry Callebaut will initially invest €50 million over a five-year period in the facility, receiving €12 million of incentives from the Serbian government.
The new factory will enable the company to expand its footprint in the region and supply a wide range of chocolate, compound and filling products.
In addition, a Chocolate Academy will be built on the same location, together with a 2,000 square metre development centre, the company said.
Contract Signing
In April 2019, the Barry Callebaut Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Serbia and the City of Novi Sad to build its first chocolate factory in Southeastern Europe.
A contract was signed in September 2019 and Barry Callebaut received from the Serbian government two hectares of land for free.
Zürich-based Barry Callebaut claims it is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, running about 60 production facilities worldwide.
The company serves the entire food industry, including industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers.
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