Mumbai: Switzerland-based chocolate maker Barry Callebaut is looking at setting up a manufacturing unit in India as part of its global expansion plans to cash in on the Rs 3,000 crore domestic market.
Barry Callebaut currently has only commercial operations in the country. It set up an office in the city in 2008 to do business here.
"As part of our expansion plan, we're looking at having a manufacturing plant in India in near future and we are progressing on the plan," Barry Callebaut vice president Gourmet Asia Pacific, Denis Convert told PTI here today.
At present, the $5.2 billion Swiss chocolate maker has 50 manufacturing facilities across Europe, Africa, North and South America as well as Asia-Pacific.
India is a very important market for Barry Callebaut and it wants to be in this market on long-term, Convert said.
"In spite of the fact that the consumption of chocolate in the country has trebled to 120 gram per capita per annum at present as against 40 gram nine years ago, India is still one of the lowest chocolate consumption markets.
In Germany alone the per capita chocolate consumption currently exists at 10
kilogram per year," Barry Callebaut managing director India, Dhruv Bhatia said.
However, the country is expected to see an annual increase of 15 per cent in consumption in future, he added.
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