The Barry Callebaut Group, based in Zurich/Switzerland, saw an acceleration in sales volume growth in the second quarter (+ 3.1 %), leading to a 2.4 % increase in sales volume to 1.047 m t in the first six months of fiscal year 2018/19. According to the company, which is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, sales volume in the chocolate business grew by about 3.5 %. This was partly offset by an anticipated decline of 1.7 % in Global Cocoa. The increase in the chocolate business was on top of a strong prior-year base and well above the underlying global chocolate confectionery market, which was growing by around 1.5 %.

Region Americas (+ 5.8 %) con-tinued its healthy growth in the first six months of this fiscal year. Sales volume growth accelerated in Region Asia Pacific (+ 5.7 %), as well as in Region EMEA (+ 2.0 %), where sales volume picked up strongly in the second quarter.

Sales revenue increased by 3.5 %, at a higher rate than volume growth, to CHF 3.673 bn, for a large part related to rising raw material prices and a better product mix. According to the company, gross profit amounted to CHF 584.8 m, up 5.7 %. Operating profit (Ebit) improved by 8.9 %, well ahead of volume growth, and amounted to CHF 301.4 m. Net profit for the period was up 15.1 % to CHF 199.1 m.