Feb. 13--International chocolate-maker Barry Callebaut is dipping its toes deeper into Chicago in a deal announced Thursday for it to make liquid chocolate on the city's Southwest Side.
Zurich, Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut already has a Chicago office at 600 W. Chicago Ave., where it runs its North American and South American operations.
Now, it has a deal to sublease space at the World's Finest Chocolate's factory at 4801 S. Lawndale Ave. in Archer Heights. Barry Callebaut will make liquid chocolate there, which it plans to sell to World's Finest and other clients.
Chicago-based World's Finest makes products such as chocolate bars sold for fundraisers and gift boxes that are sent as business gifts.
World's Finest will still operate in the facility, apart from the manufacturing of the liquid chocolate, which will now be handled by Barry Callebaut.
Barry Callebaut has 11 factories in North America, including one in Robinson, Ill., east of Effingham. The company is hopeful that adding the liquid chocolate-making in Chicago will appeal to some of the Midwest's food and confectionery companies.
jwohl@tribpub.com
