Barry Callebaut supplies ingredients for RM2b consumer goods sales in Malaysia
11 Jan 2023
Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products supplying ingredients for about RM2 billion worth of consumer goods sales by Malaysia to 57 countries, is cautiously optimistic about company growth.
Managing director in Malaysia Robert Kotuszewki said it will continue to invest on its expansion based on the strong demand here and in the region.
“The market is growing. The average (annual) industrial growth is between two and four per cent and we have always been above that. We need to invest in order to grow,” he told reporters at the official opening of its Asia Pacific Business Excellence Centre (APAC BEC) here yesterday.
Kotuszewki said Barry Callebaut has been in Malaysia for more than 30 years with investments of about RM1.3 billion here. It is also confident about the country’s political stability and talent pool.
The company has more than 600 employees in two manufacturing sites and research and development (R&D) centres in Pasir Gudang and Port Klang. The APAC BEC is a significant investment with over 100 employees with plans to scale up to 150 in the coming months.
“Malaysia is an important hub for Asia Pacific and the first country the company has chosen to establish the APAC BEC, thanks to its solid manufacturing base, cultural diversity, and multilingual talents to help connect across regional markets.
“The APAC BEC will provide support across the company’s financial and accounting services, information management and technology, customer service, and other corporate and shared service functions. It will also help to improve customer experience through standardisation and scalability of processes,” he said.
Malaysians’ annual consumption of chocolate per capita is about 0.5 kg with room for growth, he said.
Kotuszewki said its market includes confectioneries and food manufacturers. It is also the outsourcing partner for a growing number of Malaysian food manufacturers seeking high-quality products.
Sales volume of chocolate confectionery in Malaysia grew 12.7 per cent in 2021 with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4 per cent between 2016 and 2021, he said.
Close to 85 per cent of its employees, including those indirectly employed, suppliers and service providers, are Malaysians.
“The company provides significant working opportunities to over 500 small and medium enterprises,” he said.
Source: Bernama
