ZURICH, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - Oct 4, 2012) - Barry Callebaut AG /
Barry Callebaut increases UTZ Certified training activities with cocoa
supply
chain intermediaries in Cote d'Ivoire. Processed and transmitted by Thomson
Reuters ONE.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
"Cocoa Horizons" sustainability initiative broadens farmer base
· Training implemented by Barry Callebaut's local
sustainability experts
in cooperation with UTZ Certified representatives
· Work with intermediaries complements company's work with
farmer
organizations and cooperatives
· Advances company's efforts to make agricultural training
available to
a broader spectrum of farmers in Cote d'Ivoire
Barry Callebaut, the world's leading
manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate, has extended its
agriculture
training activities in Cote d'Ivoire to cocoa supply chain intermediaries.
Training to meet the sustainability standards of UTZ Certified, an
independent
certification program for cocoa, is being provided to eight intermediaries
in
key cocoa growing regions.
The local intermediaries provide services to an estimated 13,000
independent
farmers in their respective regions including the collection and purchase
of
fermented and dried cocoa beans.
"While work to strengthen and expand the number of cooperatives in Cote
d'Ivoire
is continuing, most cocoa farmers are not members of farmer organizations
and
sell their beans to local intermediaries," said Nicholas Camu, Group
Manager
"Cocoa Horizons." "To advance sustainable cocoa production, and to
complement
our work with farmer organizations, we are developing innovative programs
to
reach many of these unaffiliated farmers and intermediaries. We are pleased
to
be working with UTZ Certified in this new training effort."
Over the next several years, Barry Callebaut's in-house sustainability
team,
together with representatives from the UTZ Certified program, will provide
agricultural training to farmer trainers and will assist administrators in
developing documentation and implementing internal control systems, as
required
by the UTZ Certified program.
The training activities with intermediaries, part of Barry Callebaut's
"Cocoa
Horizons" global sustainability initiative, build on the company's
successful
prior experience in training cooperatives and farmer groups to be
independently
certified.
"UTZ Certified is a program and a label for sustainable farming," said Daan
de
Vries, Field Director UTZ Certified. "As a program, UTZ Certified functions
as
an architect and enabler of sustainable supply chains. To reach our shared
goal
to make sustainability the norm rather than an exception, we need to work
closely with all players in the cocoa value chain. We are very pleased with
the
commitment of the participating intermediaries and Barry Callebaut to work
to
achieve long-term economic viability for producers and markets, protect our
natural resources and contribute to improving farmer livelihoods."
***
Barry Callebaut (www.barry-callebaut.com):
With annual sales of about CHF 4.6 billion (EUR 3.6 billion/USD 5.0
billion) for
fiscal year 2010/11, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the world's leading
manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate - from the cocoa bean to
the
finished chocolate product. Barry Callebaut is present in 27 countries,
operates
around 40 production facilities and employs a diverse and dedicated
workforce of
about 6,000 people. Barry Callebaut serves the entire food industry
focusing on
industrial food manufacturers, artisans and professional users of chocolate
(such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs or bakers), the latter with its two
global
brands Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®. Barry Callebaut is the global
leader in
cocoa and chocolate innovations and provides a comprehensive range of
services
in the fields of product development, processing, training and marketing.
Cost
leadership is another important reason why global as well as local food
manufacturers work together with Barry Callebaut. Through its broad range
of
sustainability initiatives and research activities, the company works with
farmers, farmer organizations and other partners to help ensure future
supplies
of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods.
***
The complete press release can be downloaded via the following link:
Press Release:
http://hugin.info/100441/R/1645851/530295.pdf
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Source: Barry Callebaut AG via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1645851]