A Chatham chocolate factory is expanding.
Barry Callebaut first announced a multi-year expansion in 2018 with an initial investment of $30-million US.
Now, another $70-million US is being pumped into the Colborne Street facility to expand its product line and enhance manufacturing capabilities through the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year.
Production at the plant currently includes a broad range of products, from liquid milk and dark compound to molded products. Officials say the next phase will include both liquid and molding lines, as well as enhanced capabilities for the production of dairy-free chocolate compound to accommodate growing customer demand for plant-based indulgence. White compound production will be added in 2023.
“This Chatham expansion marks another milestone for our Region,” Barry Callebaut Americas President and CEO Steve Woolley said in a news release. “Investing in our compound production, together with the new specialty chocolate factory in Brantford, allow us to lean into the wide-variety of specialized experience in the Region, and to establish a strategic foothold in our network as we accelerate our growth journey.”
Since opening, Barry Callebaut has created almost 100 direct and 25 indirect jobs in the community.
