The new three-storey, 4,000 sq m facility is built on the premises of GarudaFood’s biscuit plant, and will employ around 50 people initially.

While the company has a presence in eight countries across the Asia-Pacific, this will be the chocolate and cocoa product manufacturer’s first business expansion into Indonesia, the world’s third largest cocoa bean grower and fourth most populous country.

“The new chocolate factory in Gresik marks an important cornerstone in Barry Callebaut’s strategy to strengthen our position as a leader in all key markets in Asia Pacific. It also enables us to grow our already significant presence in Indonesia—an important emerging market with about 260 million people that offers above-average growth opportunities,” said Antoine de Saint-Affrique, chief executive officer of Barry Callebaut.