Barry Callebaut celebrated the opening of their new regional Asian headquarters in Singapore’s OUE Downtown 2 building on March 4th 2022, with the Group’s CEO Peter Boone attending the opening ceremony. Singapore has been home to the company’s Asia Pacific office headquarters since 2014 – the new location is replacing the previous office situated at the Millenia Tower.
The company employs over 250 workers in Singapore, and operates the largest industrial chocolate factory in the country, found in Senoko South Road. This latest investment is in line with their recent moves to establish a greater presence in the Asia Pacific region, having opened new offices and factories in China, India and Indonesia in the past three years.
Singapore has been a key geographic hub for the brand, who have had a presence in the country for 25 years now. Jo Thys, Barry Callebaut’s President for Asia Pacific, is optimistic of the move, commenting:
The inauguration of our new regional headquarters represents our next chapter of sustainable growth, and reaffirms Barry Callebaut’s commitment to invest and develop in Singapore for the long-term. We look forward to continuing working with the government, trade organisations and our customers and partners to realise our ambition of becoming the responsible chocolate and cocoa leader in this region.
Barry Callebaut’s President for Asia, Jo Thys
The new facilities have received a contemporary design that better accommodates modern working practices, equipped with technological features and welfare facilities. Barry Callebaut, like many others, have adopted a hybrid model whereby employees have the option to work from home or at the office. The new offices have meeting rooms fitted with cameras and screens on the walls at eye level, to allow better collaboration between those present at the facility and those at home.
Barry Callebaut’s Asia Pacific Vice President for Human Resources, Meghna Shukla, explained
Our new office was designed to create a flexible work environment that inspires creativity and facilitates collaboration. We believe that our people perform best when they work within a modern, open, and inclusive office environment with welfare facilities that encourages them to keep healthy.
Barry Callebaut’s Asia Pacific Vice President for Human Resources, Meghna Shukla
The market for chocolate in Asia is expected to outpace growth in many other regions over the next 5 years, driven in part by the improving levels of disposable income. Chocolate companies are positioning themselves to take advantage of the new dynamic.
