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."

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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.

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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

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