Barry Callebaut Opens First Chocolate Academy in Mexico City

The Chocolate Academy located in Mexico City is a teaching and training facility for professionals at all levels interested in strengthening their skills in working with chocolate, and learning about new techniques, trends and recipes dedicated to the Mexican market.

18 Sep 2012 --- Barry Callebaut AG, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products and Chocolates Turin, a leading Mexican Group operating since 1928, announced the opening of the first Chocolate Academy in Mexico. It is Barry Callebaut’s 14th Chocolate Academy in the world. The Chocolate Academy located in Mexico City is a teaching and training facility for professionals at all levels interested in strengthening their skills in working with chocolate, and learning about new techniques, trends and recipes dedicated to the Mexican market. During the opening cocktail of the Chocolate Academy in Mexico, representatives of the top management of both Barry Callebaut and Grupo Turin attended, together with entrepreneurs and other important personalities from the local chocolate sector.

The Chocolate Academy’s offerings include a wide range of training courses for professionals and artisans and demonstrations for customers in all sectors: hotels, restaurants and the catering business, as well as pastry, bakery and chocolate experts. The aim is to create a forum for dialogue with customers interested in improving their technical skills and offering them additional consulting services.

Octavio Peñaloza Sandoval, Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Turin, said: “As a pure Mexican company, Grupo Turin is celebrating not only the results of the successful strategic cooperation with Barry Callebaut. With the opening of the first Chocolate Academy in Mexico we are also fortifying the Food Service market in the country. In addition, the new Academy will have a research center to develop new chocolate products tailored to the Mexican market needs.”

“Barry Callebaut has more than 150 years’ experience in the cocoa and chocolate world,” says Jesús Carlos Valencia, Country Manager of Barry Callebaut Mexico. “During this time, we have deepened our relationship with chocolate professionals all over the world. With our Chocolate Academies we are supporting them in expanding their knowledge and getting to know about the latest trends. With the cooperation with Grupo Turin, we can proudly present the first Chocolate Academy in Mexico today, where we continue to work on extending our services and offerings to the chocolate professionals in this important market.”