ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, and CHICAGO — The Barry Callebaut Group has signed an agreement to acquire the customer portfolio, brands, recipes and manufacturing equipment of American Almond Products Co., Inc. The transaction, announced June 8, fits into the strategy of Barry Callebaut, a chocolate and cocoa company, to grow in adjacent ingredient products, Barry Callebaut said.
American Almond, which has a production facility in Brooklyn, N.Y., makes a variety of products for customers in the chocolate confectionery, pastry, bakery, ice cream and beverage markets. The company manufactures about 2,000 tonnes of nut specialties a year and had sales revenue of about $15.9 million in 2014.
American Almond should be integrated into Barry Callebaut’s business Region Americas by Aug. 1. The two companies did not release any other details on the transaction.
“American Almond’s business fits perfectly with our overall strategy to further strengthen our market position in adjacent ingredients products for both our Gourmet & Specialties and Food Manufacturers Products business,” said Dave Johnson, chief executive officer and president Americas of the Barry Callebaut Group, which is based in Zurich and has a North American office in Chicago. “The acquired business will significantly broaden our product portfolio and open up attractive new growth opportunities as it complements our chocolate and cocoa product offerings.”
Vic Frumolt, president and c.e.o. of American Almond, said, “We are thrilled with the enormous growth opportunities for American Almond and for our customers as we become a strategic part of the Barry Callebaut Group and take full advantage of the many new product development, sales and distribution resources they have.”
In 2012 the Barry Callebaut Group bought la Morella Nuts, a Spanish company, to become a leading supplier of nut-based ingredients in Europe.
