As of: February 26, 2024, 5:30 p.m
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A bowl of chocolate stands on a coffee table.
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
According to its own statements, the world's largest chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut is planning to close its factory in Norderstedt.
The company announced this on Monday upon request.
Discussions are now taking place with the works council.
If the plans are implemented, 48 full-time positions would be affected, said a spokeswoman.
Zurich - Callebaut had already announced a savings program in the fall.
The aim is to save 250 million francs (around 260 million euros) per year, around 15 percent of the costs.
This could mean cutting a total of 2,500 jobs worldwide in the next 18 months, 18 percent of the total workforce, said a spokeswoman.
Company boss Peter Feld had previously announced the planned job cuts in an interview with the “Handelsblatt”.
Feld justifies the reduction with the structure: The USA, Europe, Asia and the global cocoa business were practically managed separately, and that should now change.
The company works primarily as a supplier for the production of chocolate products and is therefore not well known as a brand.
The company is active in 40 countries.
It generated annual sales of around 8.5 billion francs in the 2022/23 financial year (August 31).
The Barry Callebaut Group looks back on a 175-year chocolate tradition.
dpa