Chocolate giant Barry Callebaut opens production plant in Eskisehir

Leading chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has opened a production facility in the Anatolian province of Eskisehir, its first in Turkey. The company gives the new facility a central role for its growth campaign in the region extending across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, known collectively as the EEMEA. "This new investment is an important step towards realizing our expansion strategy in rapidly growing chocolate markets," said Juergen Steinemann, CEO of Barry Callebaut, at a press conference held before the opening ceremony on Wednesday. "We believe that our production plant in Eskisehir will help us acquire a stronger position in terms of our long-term goals in a fast-expanding Turkey market and its neighbors," Steinemann said. The facility, a 35 million dollar investment, will have an initial chocolate production capacity of 14,000 metric tons, which will then double in a couple of years. Turkey has a 17 billion dollar chocolate and candy market. Over the last six years, Barry Callebaut has opened 16 production facilities worldwide. The company operates in more than 100 markets around the globe.