Barry Callebaut

May 1, 2013

Photo of Sébastien Gilbert, Site manager, Barry Callebaut

Barry Callebaut

Sébastien Gilbert, manager of the Saint-Hyacinthe chocolate factory

523 employees in Quebec

Saint-Hyacinthe

Ever heard of Barry Callebaut? This company is the world’s leading supplier of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products. Besides tantalizing our taste buds, its chocolate factory in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec is attracting a lot of attention.

 

With over 500 tons of chocolate produced daily, the Québec plant has the largest production volume in the Americas and the second-largest within the Barry-Callebaut Group, which has more than 45 factories around the world.

Vital financial support and a true success story

“The Québec government’s support has been a big factor in our success within the Barry Callebaut Group,” says Sébastien Gilbert, manager of the Saint-Hyacinthe chocolate factory. “Indeed, this support has often helped tip the balance in our favour.”

 

Satisfying chocolate lovers beyond our borders

Several investments in the past years have boosted production of industrial chocolate to over 500 tons a day. In all, 95% of the chocolate is exported, mainly to the United States.

 

The factory, which features state-of-the-art equipment, remains highly competitive, particularly with Québec’s low energy costs and with deliveries made easy by the plant’s location near the U.S. border.

The Québec government’s support has been a big factor in our success within the Barry Callebaut Group. Indeed, this support has often helped tip the balance in our favour.
Sébastien Gilbert, manager of the Saint-Hyacinthe chocolate factory

A promising (and mouth-watering) project

Despite its remarkable success, the factory isn’t resting on its laurels. It is working to create a new product and to increase its capacity with the aim of doubling current production. “In an international company like Barry Callebaut, competition mainly comes from the inside,” Gilbert explains. “We must therefore look beyond our achievements and constantly rethink our strategies in order to retain our edge.”

 

The project is prestigious and the Saint-Hyacinthe factory will spare no effort to carry it through. The scale of the project doesn't worry the company. After all, it knows it can count on a dynamic business environment and on government partners eager to help it fulfill its dreams.

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