Barry Callebaut sees it big in Belgium

After, among other things, launching the first ruby chocolate and the world's largest chocolate distribution center, Barry Callebaut recently announced its acquisition of Antwerp-based Europe Chocolate Company (ECC). ECC is known for its chocolate drops, flakes and shavings on cakes or doughnuts, for example. The acquisition gives Barry Callebaut a solid boost in the growing market of customized industrial chocolate.

Made in Belgium

Barry Callebaut's pink Ruby chocolate? That was co-developed in the East Flanders innovation center of Wieze, the largest chocolate factory in the world. This fall, the chocolate giant is planning the opening of its new distribution center in Lokeren. That distribution center will also be the largest center for chocolate.

Now the chocolate manufacturer announces the acquisition of Europe Chocolate Company, a B2B chocolate company based in Antwerp. ECC makes chocolate specialties and decorations such as bars, curls, pieces, leaves, flakes for other companies. 

The acquisition will allow Barry Callebaut to better meet the growing demand from food producers for highly specific chocolate specialties and decorations. Through its flexible production process, ECC can supply numerous customers such as cookie manufacturers, bakeries, dairies, ice cream producers, confectionery manufacturers and catering companies.

The expertise behind donuts

Especially appealing to Barry Callebaut is ECC's unique know-how. "Think of a doughnut, for example. Nowadays these exist in a lot of flavors such as dark, white and Ruby chocolate. Now it goes a step further: the finishing of a doughnut is very important and requires the necessary expertise to produce it," says Wim Debets, Vice President Food Manufacturers Western-Europe at Barry Callebaut.

Eric Van Tichelen, Managing Director of ECC, adds, "I am very proud of what we have built. Almost thirty years ago, we started from scratch making specialty chocolate products. Joining the Barry Callebaut Group will allow ECC to grow faster. Thanks to the extensive sales network, we will reach new customers and new markets, further emphasizing our unique value proposition."

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