Barry Callebaut opens its first cocoa bean export centre in Ecuador

Taycan, Barry Callebaut’s new home in Ecuador

Chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has opened its first cocoa bean buying, cleaning, drying and export facility in Ecuador, called Taycan.

Taycan is Ecuador’s “most state-of-the-art cocoa bean cleaning, drying and export facility and the $10 million investment underlines Barry Callebaut’s commitment to support the further development of the Ecuadorian cocoa sector”, the company stated in a release.

In addition to being the hub for the export of the Group’s Ecuadorian cocoa beans, Taycan also represents a new home for all of Barry Callebaut’s employees in the South American nation. 

Ecuador has been climbing the ranks of cocoa producing countries and it is currently the third largest cocoa producer in the world, behind Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

“The opening of Taycan highlights the strategic importance of Ecuador as a cocoa producer and Barry Callebaut’s commitment to having a strong presence and a state-of-the-art facility to better serve the needs of our customers,” said Steven Retzlaff, President Global Cocoa at Barry Callebaut. “We are pleased to offer our Barry Callebaut colleagues a new home in Ecuador and welcome the opportunity to contribute to Ecuador’s continued success in growing its sustainable cocoa production.”

“Taycan is a commitment which goes beyond the buying, cleaning, drying and exporting of cocoa beans,” added Angela Gubser, Managing Director of Barry Callebaut Ecuador. “It represents further investment by Barry Callebaut in research and the sustainability of the cocoa sector, to the benefit of all stakeholders in the cocoa supply chain.”