Staying in Russia feels right, says CEO of Barry Callebaut

Zurich, Switzerland-based chocolate maker Barry Callebaut will continue to operate in Russia to help its employees and customers there, even though the group said the images from the war in Ukraine are creating enormous pressure.

The Swiss group posted higher sales and profit volumes for the first half of its fiscal year, which was supported by a recovery in the global chocolate market. But the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has forced all consumer goods firms with a presence in Russia to rethink their strategies.

While Nestle, a customer of Barry Callebaut, has halted selling most foods, including KitKat chocolate bars, in Russia. However, Barry Callebaut’s three Russian chocolate factories and 500 staff are still working.

Peter Boone, the CEO of Barry Callebaut, told reporters that the firm was under enormous pressure just watching the images from the ongoing war. He added that the chocolate maker was still contacting their 500 Russian colleagues. Since neither their Russian employees nor other Russian citizens had asked for the war, which was clearly the decision of the Russian government, the chocolate maker felt it was the right thing to stay in operations for their employees and customers, CEO Boone concluded.

Boone said the firm’s business in Russia, which is the fourth-largest chocolate confectionery market, according to Euromonitor, represented under 5% of the group production volumes.