Chocolate and cocoa products maker Barry Callebaut is expanding production capacity at its American Canyon facility with $20m investment.
The facility expansion is in direct response to the increase in demand for chocolate in the American market, the company said.
Barry Callebaut plans to increase liquid chocolate, compound production capacity, tank capacity and also the molding infrastructure. The plant’s operations at present include milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and compound products.
The project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2017 and is expected to create additional jobs at the facility.
The investment set aside for the project comes from the Group’s annual Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of about $200m.
Barry Callebaut Group Americas CEO and president Dave Johnson said: “Ensuring our facilities match regional demand is crucial to meet customer demand.
“Population growth in the West Coast is driving an increased chocolate demand. We are committed to providing our customers with products of the highest quality and consistency in an advantageous proximity.”
“We’re excited about the trends in the Western market, so our investment in the American Canyon facility highlights our optimism for chocolate growth in the region. This investment will drive our business and the business of our customers forward on the West Coast.”
The American Canyon factory, which was opened in 2005, offers a range of food manufacturers and confectionary companies which operate in the western regions of the US, Canada and Mexico.
