UPDATE: Barry Callebaut named Antoine de Saint-Affrique its next CEO, to start in October, reports Reuters. He is currently in the top spot at Unilever's food sector, as well as an independent director at Essilor, the biggest ophthalmic lenses-maker.
Current Barry Callebaut CEO Juergen Steinemann will leave his post in August. Amanda Sourry will take de Saint-Affrique's place at Unilever.
Dive Brief:
- The Barry Callebaut Group signed an agreement to acquire certain assets from artisanal nut-based ingredients producer American Almond Products Co., Inc.
- These assets include American Almonds' customer portfolio, brands, recipes, and manufacturing equipment.
- The acquisition fits Barry Callebaut's moves to expand into similar and complementary markets.
Dive Insight:
Cocoa and nut-based products are complementary, and both markets are growing quickly thanks to increased consumer demand.
This is not Barry Callebaut's first foray into the nuts business, as in 2012, the company also acquired Spanish company la Morella nuts to establish its leadership in Europe's nut-based ingredients market.
"After the integration of American Almond into Barry Callebaut's business Region Americas as of August 1, 2015, both the Group's Gourmet and Food Manufacturers' customers in North America will benefit from a significantly broadened specialties products portfolio," according to a news release.