April 17, 2008 - Barry Callebaut has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Biolands of Tanzania, Africa's largets exporter of certified organic cocoa, after purchasing 100 per cent of its top-end cocoa for the past eight years.
The Swiss cocoa manufacturer has been buying cocoa from Biolands since the programme first started up, allowing it to develop thier organic smallholder cocoa programme. After years of strengthening the partnership followed by the recent investment, Biolands will be able to replicate the model with cocoa farmers in other countries.
This latest investment demonstrates the focus on sustainable and ethical farming while improving traceability, as barry callebaut will be able to enter into involvement with other countries through the programme. (Laura Crowley)
> Source
