A Swiss chocolate manufacturing company is investing another $95 million ($70 million USD) in its Chatham facility.
Barry Callebaut has announced the next phase of the expansion of its Chatham factory on Colborne Street.
According to a media release on the company's website, the multi-year expansion started in 2018, with an initial investment of $40.9 million ($30 million USD) for additional liquid storage capacity in Chatham to expand the variety of products available to its customers.
Barry Callebaut will invest an additional $95 million in Chatham’s product portfolio and enhanced manufacturing capabilities by the end of August 2023. The ongoing investments will bring the total investment in the Chatham factory to $136 million ($100 million USD.)
"We’re excited that Barry Callebaut sees Chatham-Kent for what it is: a place worth investing in. They see a united community with a great quality of life, one that’s prime for investment and one that’s able to provide them with the quality workforce they need," said Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff. "We’re growing, and we’re thrilled that they’ve chosen to grow along with us.”
Production at the Chatham plant currently includes a broad range of products, from liquid milk and dark compound to molded products. The investment will increase both liquid and molding lines, as well as enhance the capabilities for the production of dairy-free products to accommodate growing customer demand for plant-based items.
In April 2022, Barry Callebaut announced an investment of $141.5 million ($104 million USD) in a new specialty chocolate factory in Brantford. The factory in Brantford will focus on sugar-free chocolate, high protein, and other specialty products to meet increasing customer demand.
"This Chatham expansion marks another milestone for our region," said President & CEO of Barry Callebaut Americas Steve Woolley. "Investing in our compound production, together with the new specialty chocolate factory in Brantford, allow us to lean into the wide variety of specialized experience in the Region, and to establish a strategic foothold in our network as we accelerate our growth journey."
Barry Callebaut is based in Zürich, Switzerland and operates in over 30 countries. According to its website, the company describes itself as the "world's leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products."