Swiss chocolate and cocoa products company Barry Callebaut has opened a new branch of its Chocolate Academy in Banbury, UK.

The company will use the new facility to meet the increasing demand for new chocolate products in the country.

Barry Callebaut UK and Ireland Gourmet sales director Vincenzo Mangano said: “Today’s chocolate consumer is on a constant hunt for new and innovative tastes and recipes.

“With the brand new Chocolate Academy Center Banbury and a fantastic team, we renew our promise to our customers to share our expertise and work even closer together to bring these premium and exciting innovations to the market.”

The new Chocolate Academy reportedly forms part of the company’s expansion and growth strategy in the UK. Chocolate manufacturers consider the UK one of the biggest chocolate confectionery markets in Europe, in terms of volume.

Barry Callebaut said that its new academy has been designed to help and support its customers. These include local and overseas food manufacturers, professional chocolatiers, and artisans.

The company will also use the new facility to explore new techniques and recipes.

The new facility in Banbury will join Barry Callebaut’s global network of 23 Chocolate Academy Centers.

Barry Callebaut UK general manager Richard Terme said: “The UK is a huge growth market, bursting with opportunity.

“The inauguration of this new Chocolate Academy Center in Banbury marks yet another milestone in our successful growth story in the UK and over the next years, we will continue to invest in our business and strengthen our collaboration with food manufacturing and artisanal customers in the UK.”

In March, Barry Callebaut opened a Chocolate Academy centre and an office in Beijing, China.

These new facilities will help it meet the growing demand for its products and offer improved assistance to local customers.