Asia boosts sales for Barry Callebaut

Barry Callebaut reports sales for the first three months of fiscal year 2009/10 that ended on November 30, 2009.

Sales volume went up to 7.2%, sales revenue was up by 6.3% in local currencies (+1.5% in CHF) as the company expects the global chocolate market to remain flat in 2010 in volume terms.

The most significant volume increases were noted in Asia (+17.7%), the Americas (+15.6%) and in global sourcing and cocoa (+14.0%).

The company says Asia is showing some early signs of a recovery as customers continue to order at short notice.

Sales volume rose significantly by 17.7% to 12,440 tons, driven by the implementation of an existing outsourcing contract as well as market share gains with new customers and distributors both in food manufacturers and gourmet & specialties products.