The Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has entered the list of sponsors of the war in Ukraine. This information was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the National Anti-Corruption Agency.
Barry Callebaut has been operating in Russia for over 15 years and has three factories in the Russian Federation:
- Near the city of Chekhov (Moscow region)
- Kasimov (Ryazan region)
- Kaliningrad
In Moscow, the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy, the second largest in the company, is located in the Alcon business center.
Shortly after the start of the full-scale invasion, the company announced the supply of essential goods to Russia, stating that "chocolate is part of the daily ration for many." However, according to the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPC), this statement is considered manipulative, as neither chocolate nor cocoa-containing food products fall under the category of essential food items according to the legislation of the aggressor country.
Meanwhile, the company's CEO, Peter Boone, stated that the military operation in Ukraine was initiated by the Russian government, not the Russian people. He emphasized that the company, as a supporter of its customers, does not find it right to distance itself from them and leave them without products that consumers did not request due to the military operation.
As of today, Barry Callebaut continues to be an active participant in import-export operations. In 2023, goods worth over $94 million were imported into the Russian market, more than three times the figures of 2022, when imports to Russia amounted to $29 million. Among the imported goods are confectionery products, dry mixes, cocoa, cocoa butter, palm oil, and fat from Belgium, Switzerland, Estonia, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, India, and Spain.
Thus, Barry Callebaut continues to actively support the Russian economy and, consequently, sponsors the aggression against Ukraine. The company's leadership has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
