In its first quarter of fiscal year 2012/13 (ended Nov. 30, 2012), Barry Callebaut, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, significantly outpaced the global chocolate market with an overall sales volume growth of +8.3 percent. All Regions contributed to this growth. The Food Manufacturers Products business' sales volume rose strongly by 10.0 percent. The Gourmet & Specialties Products business recorded double-digit increases in all regions except Western Europe, where the market environment remained challenging against the background of economic uncertainties, especially in Southern Europe; in total, sales volume of Gourmet & Specialties Products increased by 5.9 percent. Sales revenue for the first quarter went down by 1.4 percent in local currencies (-0.6 percent in CHF) because comparable sales prices for cocoa ingredients were lower at the time when the business was contracted.

Outlook - Confident about achieving mid-term growth targets
CEO Juergen Steinemann on the outlook: "We will continue to implement the various communicated projects supporting our top and bottom-line growth. I am confident we will reach our mid-term financial targets."

Strategic developments
In December, Barry Callebaut announced the largest acquisition in its history: In order to support the further growth of its chocolate business, the company will acquire the Cocoa Ingredients Division from Petra Foods. With this, Barry Callebaut will boost its presence in fast growing emerging markets to almost one-third of the Group's sales volume. This will enable the company to capitalize on the attractive growth rates in these markets for cocoa powder-based applications in beverages, compound chocolates, fillings, bakery products and ice cream. In addition, this will strengthen Barry Callebaut's current and future outsourcing and strategic partnership agreements as there is a trend towards combined deals (cocoa and chocolate products). It will also add Asia as a strong sourcing base besides West Africa. The closing of the transaction is expected in summer 2013.

End of November, Barry Callebaut completed the sale of its factory and the related business in Dijon (France) to the newly formed "Chocolaterie de Bourgogne" concluding the final step in the disposal of all of its consumer activities. The company also announced the construction of two new chocolate factories: In order to capitalize on the growth potential of the Turkish as well as neighboring chocolate markets, Barry Callebaut will open a factory for chocolate and compound in Eskisehir late summer 2013. In addition, the company will construct a facility in Santiago de Chile (Chile) after recently signing a long-term outsourcing agreement with Alimentos Dos en Uno S.A. to be operational in early 2014.

Regional / Segment performance

Region Europe - Solid growth in Western Europe and EEMEA
Sales volume in Region Europe rose 6.3 percent to 201,006 tonnes in a market environment which was still depressed in Southern Europe. Growth in Western Europe was particularly driven by the Food Manufacturers Products business. In the Gourmet business all countries grew except Italy; Callebaut® and Cacao Barry® equally contributed to the volume increase. Sales volume at the Beverages division returned to positive growth rates. In Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA), the Food Manufacturers Products business performed well mainly in Russia, Middle East and Turkey. At the same time the Gourmet & Specialties Products business continued to record double-digit volume growth. Overall sales revenue in the Region went up 2.4 percent in local currencies (+1.6 percent in CHF) to CHF 624.6 million.

Region Americas - Continued double-digit top-line growth
Region Americas was again able to achieve double-digit growth rates in the first three months; sales volume increased by 14.7 percent to 104,898 tonnes. In North America the company's global accounts in the industrial business and the Gourmet business both grew double digit. Mexico continued to report a strong performance. Growth in South America was mainly driven by the vigorous development of the Gourmet & Specialties Product business. Sales revenue rose 1.4 percent in local currencies (+6.3 percent in CHF) to CHF 300.0 million. The lower growth in sales revenue is attributable to lower cocoa ingredient prices, which only recently started increasing again.

Region Asia-Pacific - Strong acceleration of growth
Both the Industrial and the Gourmet businesses showed high double-digit sales volume growth in Barry Callebaut's Region Asia-Pacific: Overall, volume rose 17.5 percent to 15,502 tonnes. Strong growth was recorded in China, Australia, Malaysia, and Korea. In the Food Manufacturers Products business both global and local accounts grew double digit. Growth in the Gourmet business was equally driven by the imported global brand Callebaut® as well as by local brands; substantial growth was recorded in China and India. Sales revenue in the Region increased by 4.2 percent in local currencies (+8.0 percent in CHF) to CHF 60.9 million.

Global Sourcing & Cocoa - Fewer powder sales to third party customers
Cocoa terminal market prices peaked at around GBP 1,700 in early September due to uncertainties with regards to the main crop as well as the cocoa reform in Côte d'Ivoire. In the following two months, prices moved in a narrow range between GBP 1,500 and 1,600 to close at GBP 1,586 on November 30, 2012, the average level of the last six months. Prices on the world sugar market continued to go down thanks to a very good crop in Brazil. EU sugar prices slightly increased with the start of the new crop in October. Following a strong surge due to the drought in the U.S., milk powder prices stabilized at a high level as of September.

Sales volume in the segment Global Sourcing & Cocoa went up 2.9 percent to 66,754 tonnes. The growth of this segment was impacted by ongoing expansion at some of the factories, as well as higher internal demand for cocoa powder, which limited sales to third parties. Sales revenue decreased by 12.8 percent in local currencies (-13.1 percent in CHF) to CHF 262.9 million. This is mainly because sales prices for cocoa ingredients (cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, and cocoa powder) were lower at the time the business was contracted.