Barry Callebaut Opens its First Innovation Center in the United States at Chocolate Factory in Pennsauken, N.J.

In addition, the center will focus on developing new flavor formulations and enhanced nutritional and functional profiles for its chocolate products.

04/07/08 Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, announced the opening of its first innovation center in the United States. The new, state-of-the art research and development facility is located at Barry Callebaut’s manufacturing facility in Pennsauken, N.J., and will focus on the development of unique chocolate products and applications to meet the specific needs of its U.S. customers.

The Barry Callebaut innovation center features a special pilot plant – a scaled-down chocolate factory that mimics the production processes that occur on the actual production lines in the factory – and a laboratory for product testing and applications work involving depositing, molding, panning and enrobing operations.
 
“The new Barry Callebaut innovation center is a further testament to our commitment to serving the North American market, and will enable us to offer customized products and services at competitive prices, thereby creating sustained value for our customers,” said Rich Benson, director of research and development for Barry Callebaut North America.
 
“Whether we’re working to develop a new innovative inclusion or enhancing the taste and texture of an existing chocolate product, we’ll be working closely with our customers in the United States to develop the products and applications that will meet their needs as well as the needs of today’s consumers.”
 
Benson also said that some of the research and development initiatives currently being conducted at the company’s European facilities will be transitioned to the new Pennsauken center. In addition, the center will focus on developing new flavor formulations and enhanced nutritional and functional profiles for its chocolate products.