Barry Callebaut opens Chocolate Academy in Shenzhen

Leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, the Barry Callebaut Group has opened its fourth office and third CHOCOLATE ACADEMY^TM Center in Shenzhen, China.

Ben De Schryver, president of Barry Callebaut at Asia Pacific, said, “I am excited about the great  growth potential China offers. The inauguration of the new office and the CHOCOLATE ACADEMY ^TM  Center in Shenzhen is part of our continuous expansion in China and another milestone in our successful growth story which started here 12 years ago. The state-of-the-art facilities will help us to meet the growing demand for high-quality chocolate creations and serve our customers in China better. We will continue to invest in our business and strengthen our collaboration with food manufacturers and artisanal customers in China.”

After Suzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, the Shenzhen office will be the company’s operational hub in southern China. Barry Callebaut currently has a local factory in Suzhou, sales offices and CHOCOLATE ACADEMY^TM Centers in Shanghai, Beijing, to which it now adds Shenzhen. 

In the last 12 years, more than 5,000 craftsmen in China have attended training and demonstrations in the CHOCOLATE ACADEMY™ Centers in Shanghai and Beijing. The centers have recently hosted online learning sessions in Mandarin on topics such as home baking, which have attracted more than 130,000 viewers since February 2020.

Denis Convert, vice president, Gourmet for Barry Callebaut at Asia Pacific, said, “China is one of our largest Gourmet markets in the world. Our CHOCOLATE ACADEMY ^TM Centers in China have become a hub of expertise, creativity and inspiration for both professionals and chocolate lovers.  And this extends online too. We support our customers and empower chefs to be at their very own  best. They can explore chocolate science, innovative techniques, and inspiring recipes together with the world-leading chocolatiers, pastry chefs and bakers."