Barry Callebaut brings together South Africa’s leading chocolate and confectionery brands for industry-defining event

Barry Callebaut brought together South Africa’s leading chocolate and confectionery brands at The Chocolate Academy in Sandton, where they explored emerging trends, innovations, and opportunities within the global confectionery market. 

Sofiane Ouffa, Barry Callebaut’s Managing Director for South, East and Western Africa cluster, shared about the company’s 175 years of chocolate and cocoa heritage, selling approximately 2.3 million tonnes of chocolate annually. 

With control over its value chain—from cocoa origination to chocolate manufacturing—Barry Callebaut is uniquely positioned to lead the industry into the future.

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“We have an unparalleled blend of expertise in cocoa and chocolate – from sourcing of beans, to insights into future consumer trends,” said Ouffa.

Investing in the future through innovation and resilience

Barry Callebaut’s vast scale and interconnected supply chain empower the company to make significant investments in research and development, driving innovation that ensures the chocolate and cocoa industries continue to thrive and adapt to evolving market demands. 

By refining production processes and developing products that resonate with modern consumers, Barry Callebaut is not just sustaining the industry but actively shaping its future. 

The company’s 26 Chocolate Academies worldwide, including The Chocolate Academy in Sandton, also serve as hubs of innovation, where experts explore new and exciting ways to craft products that captivate consumers. 

This is particularly important in showcasing the remarkable resilience of our artisans and industrial confectioners in the country in the face of evolving global dynamics even as the cocoa industry navigates a transformative period. 

Besides the activities at the Chocolate Academies, the company has implemented multiple innovative solutions to empower chocolate and cocoa businesses for long-term success, including:

• Diversifying cocoa sourcing to mitigate the effects of weather-related challenges. 
• Investing in advanced and high-technology farming model — “Future Farming Initiative”—that aims to enhance crop yields per hectare.
• Innovating our products to enhance versatility and expand the use of our products across a wider range of applications 
• Developing new chocolate offerings that resonate with modern consumers’ preferences, such as adoption of vegan and sugar-free products.

Into the Future with 2nd-Generation chocolate

At the event, Barry Callebaut introduced its groundbreaking “second-generation chocolate,” which is set to redefine the industry.

This innovative chocolate, which is not yet commercially available, contains 50% less sugar and eliminates the need for artificial sweeteners. 

By employing a revolutionary processing method and extracting natural sugars from the cocoa plant, Barry Callebaut delivers a purer cocoa flavor while maximizing the value derived from each cocoa plant.

Guests at the event had the opportunity to sample these new chocolate and cocoa creations, experiencing firsthand the potential of Barry Callebaut’s innovations to shape the future of the industry.

Click here to learn more about Barry Callebaut.