Halle (Eurotoday) – Chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut aims to boost production capabilities at its Halle facility located in the Flemish Region by seeking the construction of supplementary buildings. One building has received authorisation, while the factory requires approval of a planning certificate for the second building because parts of it extend beyond the designated zoning limits.
Barry Callebaut has declared its plans to increase production capabilities at its Halle site in Belgium by a substantial margin. The company plans to boost its annual chocolate output from 163,000 tons to 338,000 tons and produce 50,000 tons of cocoa. To achieve this, Barry Callebaut will implement two building projects, one of which has already obtained authorisation permits for expansion.
A planning certificate must be obtained because the second building extends into zoning limits. The expansion aligns with Barry Callebaut’s strategy to enhance production efficiency and reduce site dependencies.
Barry Callebaut operates two production facilities in Belgium, located in Wieze and Halle, in addition to storage operations in Lokeren. Currently, the Halle production site relies on Wieze for most of its processing needs. The expansion aims to transform both production sites into independent facilities by adding cocoa bean processing capabilities at Halle, thereby improving operational resilience in case of facility disruptions.
The company stated:
“This makes the sites less dependent on each other, the logistics process can be kept simpler, and if one of the sites fails, production can be continued at the other site.”
Barry Callebaut also emphasised its Belgian roots, stating:
“Belgium is also the birthplace of Barry Callebaut.”
To further reinforce its commitment to innovation and efficiency, the company added:
“To prepare our factories for the future, we will invest significantly in our factories in Halle and Wieze to continue to serve our customers with the best service, value, sustainability, and quality.”
The expansion project will lead to a significant increase in transportation, with the number of daily truckloads rising from 42 to approximately 121, posing challenges for local freight logistics. The public inquiry allows objections or comments to be submitted until April 17.
What is the background of Barry Callebaut’s operations and recent changes?
Global chocolate and cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut operates key production facilities in Belgium at Wieze and Halle while managing storage operations in Lokeren. The Wieze facility primarily focuses on processing cocoa beans into cocoa products, whereas the Halle facility transforms cocoa into chocolate products.
Historically, the Halle site has depended on Wieze for its cocoa supply. However, recent organisational changes have included significant workforce adjustments, leading to a reduction of approximately 170 positions across Belgium, particularly in Wieze and Lokeren. Although initial plans indicated a staff reduction of 178 positions in Halle, only 18 positions remained affected.
As part of a broader global restructuring effort, Barry Callebaut has reduced its workforce by 2,500 employees to enhance efficiency and secure future investments. The company reiterated its commitment to Belgium, stating:
“To prepare our factories for the future, we will invest significantly in our factories in Halle and Wieze.”
The ongoing expansion at Halle aims to achieve new production targets of 338,000 tons of chocolate per year, alongside the increased processing capacity of 50,000 tons of cocoa. These improvements are designed to reduce site dependencies and enhance operational reliability.
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