The Barry Callebaut AG Company, Zurich, Switzerland, has announced signing the sale of its European consumer business Stollwerck to the Belgian Baronie Group. The share deal comprises the entire Stollwerck Group including five factories in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. The transaction also includes a long-term supply agreement between the Baronie Group and Barry Callebaut for the supply of approximately 25,000 t of liquid chocolate annually as well as the additional supply of cocoa beans and semi-finished products. The two contracting parties agreed not to disclose any financial details of the transaction, which is subject to antitrust assessment. Closing is expected for fall 2011. Stollwerck, founded in 1839 and bought by Barry Callebaut in 2002, is a producer of chocolate confectionery products offering an extensive portfolio to most of the important retailers in Europe. Sales revenue of Stollwerck is approximately EUR 500m and volumes sold are more than 100,000 t. Stollwerck’s volumes consist of private label business, branded chocolate products (Sarotti, Alprose, Alpia and Jacques) and co-manufacturing for third parties. The company employs about 1,700 people. With annual sales of about CHF 5.2bn (approximately EUR 3.6bn) for the fiscal year 2009/10, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is, according to its own statements, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate. Barry Callebaut is present in 26 countries, operates more than 40 production facilities and employs about 7,500 people.