Barry Callebaut appoints ex-Unilever boss Schumacher as CEO
Key takeaways
- Barry Callebaut names former Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher as CEO amid cocoa price volatility and market pressure.
- Leadership change aligns with the completion of the BC Next Level transformation program aimed at efficiency, digitization, and long-term growth.
- Appointment comes as volumes fall, but revenues rise, with easing cocoa prices offering cautious optimism for market stabilization.
Barry Callebaut has appointed former Unilever boss Hein Schumacher to succeed CEO Peter Feld, as the chocolate industry struggles with the impact of rising cocoa prices, and the company reportedly considers separating its cocoa division from its chocolate business.
Schumacher combines deep food industry expertise with a proven ability to create shareholder value, according to Barry Callebaut. He was the CEO of British multinational Unilever (2023–2025), where he led a successful growth plan focusing on higher‑value core brands and achieving significant shareholder value growth.
He has previously held CEO and CFO roles at FrieslandCampina, where he led during volatile commodity prices and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he was praised for strengthening the company through a major restructuring initiative.
Schumacher also worked in a senior role at HJ Heinz (now Kraft Heinz) from 2003 to 2014
His other positions included president and CEO of HJ Heinz Asia Pacific (2013-2015) and executive VP of Heinz China (2010-2013), based in Asia-Pacific.
“Following a period of unprecedented market turbulence, Barry Callebaut is at an exciting juncture. While the business continues to navigate market and volume pressures, we have a clear opportunity to return to growth, to strengthen our culture and to deliver a step-up in our business performance, “ Schumacher says in a statement.
Schumacher will take up his new CEO position on January 26.
Leveling up and business transformation
The leadership shift comes as Barry Callebaut completes its “BC Next Level transformation program.”
This initiative was initially announced in September 2023 as a major revamp for the company, positioning it for long-term growth amid a prolonged period of challenges in the cocoa sector, most notably high cocoa prices. It aims to boost efficiency, food safety, and customer service by standardizing processes, upgrading digital tools, and streamlining operations.
The cocoa industry has been battered by supply chain volatility in recent years, as a myriad of weather conditions, climate change-related issues, and disease drove up cocoa prices in 2024 and 2025. It’s only been since late December and early January 2026 that cocoa prices have started to ease, as forecasts of favorable weather conditions in West African growing regions have lifted supply expectations.
At the time, Barry Callebaut said the transformation program would move decision-making closer to its markets and customers while fostering simplicity and digitization, paving the way for the next decade of sustainable growth.
Cocoa prices have started to ease amid favorable weather forecasts.
Fallout from record cocoa prices
Yesterday’s CEO shake-up announcement comes at a pivotal time for Barry Callebaut, which is experiencing a challenging financial year.
The company also reported its three-month key sales figures for 2025/26 yesterday, which show sales volume in Global Chocolate decreased by -6.8%, in line with the declining chocolate confectionery market (-6.1%).
Global cocoa sales volume declined by -22.0%, reflecting negative market demand and the prioritization of volume toward higher-return segments within Cocoa. Overall, Group sales volume decreased by -9.9%, while sales revenue increased by 8.9% to reach CHF 3.7 billion (US$4.6 billion).
Barry Callebaut notes how the stabilizing coca bean prices are a positive signal for customer confidence and market behavior into the second half of the year.
“The Board is delighted to welcome Hein Schumacher as Barry Callebaut’s next CEO after an extensive global search process… He is the right leader at this stage to chart Barry Callebaut’s next phase of increased customer focus, winning culture, and financial strength, based on our fully integrated cocoa and chocolate business model,” says Patrick De Maeseneire, chairman of Barry Callebaut Group.
Barry Callebaut’s business split?
Last month, it was widely reported that the world’s largest chocolate maker was exploring separating its cocoa division from its chocolate business, marking what could be a structural break in the industry between manufacturing and commodity trading that would reshape how the sector manages supply chain risk.
This reported separation is believed to be at the exploratory stage, and Barry Callebaut has not confirmed a final decision.
