Eddystone cocoa facility bought by Swiss firm

Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut AG said today it has acquired Food Processing International Inc., of Eddystone, and will double production at the facility.

Zurich-based Barry Callebaut did not disclose the purchase price, but said it would spend $51 million over the next two to three years for the acquisition and to increase production at the Eddystone plant to 50,000 metric tons per year of cocoa liquor.

Currently, Food Processing has a capacity of 25,000 metric tons per year. Bloomberg News reported today that Barry Callebaut wants the additional capacity to meet a long-term order from Hershey Co.

Food Processing began production in 2006 and has existing orders for up to 16,000 metric tons of cocoa liquor and up to 10,000 metric tons of cocoa powder and cocoa butter. The deal is expected to close within the month.