Cocoa and chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut is building a new global distribution centre (GDC) in Lokeren, Belgium.

Totalling over 60,000m², the facility will feature a low bay and a fully automated high bay warehouse. It will serve as a logistics hub for worldwide distribution of chocolates manufactured by Barry Callebaut.

The facility’s location in Lokeren, Belgium, will consolidate the company’s activities currently situated across various locations in Aalst, Belgium.

The warehouse site will be realised by real estate investment trust company Warehouses De Pauw, with the site being rented by Barry Callebaut on a long-term basis from its completion in the third quarter of 2021.

Barry Callebaut Group EMEA region president Massimo Garavaglia said: “The global expansion of our products has increased rapidly in recent years, and we anticipate that this trend will continue in the future.

“The new Global Distribution Center is an adequate solution that responds to our growth, increases efficiency for our customers as well as employees and guarantees improved mobility at the same time. In addition, the development of the GDC is a textbook example of the implementation of our ‘smart growth’ strategy.”

The site is in line with Barry Callebaut’s sustainable Forever Chocolate strategy, which seeks to become carbon positive by 2025.

The logistics hub will be fully energy-neutral with solar panels, low life-cycle cost materials, geothermal energy, charging stations for electric vehicles and facilities for cyclists.

Barry Callebaut manufactures chocolate and cocoa products, from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing fine chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds.

The company runs around 60 production facilities globally and employs over 11,500 people.

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