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Tag: belgian

  • Barry Callebaut expands NSW chocolate plant

    Barry Callebaut expands NSW chocolate plant

    Barry Callebaut has completed the expansion of its Campbellfield factory in Melbourne, after the 11,000 m2 site was acquired in 2020.

    The expansion will cater for local industrial food manufacturers with new production lines to increase the total operating capacity and its range of chocolate offerings. The range will now include liquid chocolate, compound, buttons and chips, in addition to the products already produced at the site such as coatings and fillings.

    “This factory expansion underlines Barry Callebaut’s ongoing commitment to Australia. The facility further strengthens our regional footprint in Asia–Pacific, producing safe and high-quality products. The move is in line with our ambition to locate production close to our customers,” said Jo Thys, President of the Asia Pacific region for Barry Callebaut.

    The factory will be equipped with chocolate refining and conching lines, which will enable the company to serve the Australian food industry from artisans to global manufacturers.

    “I am proud that our Gourmet chocolates have been brought into the country for many years now. Today, I am even prouder that our high quality ‘Made in Australia’ products are available in higher volumes, creating more chocolate happiness for our local consumers,” said Denis Convert, Managing Director Australia at Barry Callebaut.

    “With the expansion of our Campbellfield factory, we are well-positioned to become the leading chocolate manufacturer in Australia.”

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  • Godiva completes sale of APAC operations

    Godiva completes sale of APAC operations

    Belgian manufacturer of gourmet chocolates, Godiva Chocolatier, has completed the sale of selected assets of its Asia Pacific business to South Korea’s MBK Partners.

    Godiva, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Yildiz Holding, said the deal with the private equity firm includes Godiva’s retail and distribution operations in Japan, South Korea and Australia as well as the future rights to develop New Zealand.

    The transaction also includes the Godiva production facility in Brussels that supplies product to these markets.

    No financial terms were disclosed, but according to a previous Reuters article about the announcement of the sale, the transaction could be worth between $1 billion and $1.5 billion.

    Godiva, which will retain exclusive brand ownership in all global markets, said the deal is in line of its global strategy to grow its business five-fold.

    Godiva said it is granting perpetual license to MBK Partners but will continue to own and operate the remaining markets in over 100 countries.Adtech Ad

    According to the chocolatier, it will maintain its R&D Center of Excellence in Brussels, Belgium, and will continue to source its products from the Belgian facility, the Godiva-owned production facility in the US and from its affiliate facilities in Istanbul, Turkey.

    The company previously announced it will use the proceeds of the sale to finance diversification, including an expansion of its cafe business from 20 stores to more than 2000 globally in the next six years.

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  • BACD Kicks Off with Industry Association for Commercial Divers

    BACD Kicks Off with Industry Association for Commercial Divers

    In accordance with its constitution, The Belgian Association of Commercial Divers (BACD) announces that Hans Cuylits is its new President and Chairman of the Board.

    Hans Cuylits said: “My aim is to increase the impact and effectiveness of BACD to its members and other stakeholders through the implementation of our strategy developed over the last year.

    I have a particular passion in developing collaborative ‘win-win’ relationships between commercial divers, dive companiers and suppliers in order to bring projects off the drawing board and into the dive field.”

    The Belgian Association of Commercial Divers (BACD) is a leading diving association representing the vast majority of commercial divers in the inshore and offshore marine industry worldwide. They have a membership of over 60 companies including divers, suppliers and numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs). BACD was formed in 2017.

    The mission is to improve performance and safety in the commercial diving industry. BACD achieves this by leveraging the expertise of their members through conferences, seminars and meetings, and in publishing leading standards of technical and operating guidance in key areas of safety, quality, and offshore performance.

    In addition, BACD represent their members in dialogue with other industry bodies, regulators. BACD is very active in international regulatory and policy matters in the upstream industry.

    Mission – to improve performance and safety in the commercial diving industry.

    Vision – to be the global authority in the commercial diving industry by championing better regulation and the delivery of authoritative technical practices. This will be achieved by being the focal point for developing opinion and influence in the industry.

    Value proposition – to influence our industry in key technical, contractual, policy and regulatory matters that are in the collective best interest of the commercial diving inudstry.