Swiss cocoa products company Barry Callebaut has opened its new chocolate academy centre and office in Shenzhen, China, to meet the growing demand for high-quality chocolate creations in the region.

Barry Callebaut’s new academy is the third in the country after centres in Beijing and Shanghai. The office in Shenzhen is also the company’s fourth in the country after the sites in Suzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.

The chocolate academy is located within the new office premises and will enable artisans, pastry chefs, confectioners, bakers and caterers to create new chocolate products.

In the last 12 years, more than 5,000 craftsmen have participated in training and demonstrations in the centres in Shanghai and Beijing.

Barry Callebaut Asia Pacific president Ben De Schryver said: “I am excited about the great growth potential China offers. The inauguration of the new office and the Chocolate Academy Center in Shenzhen is part of our continuous expansion in China and another milestone in our successful growth story which started here 12 years ago.

“The state-of-the-art facilities will help us to meet the growing demand for high-quality chocolate creations and serve our customers better. We will continue to invest in our business and strengthen our collaboration with food manufacturers and artisanal customers in China.”

The company stated that the new Shenzhen office is well-positioned to become Barry Callebaut’s operational hub in southern China.

Barry Callebaut Asia Pacific gourmet vice-president Denis Convert said: “China is one of our largest Gourmet markets in the world. Our chocolate academy centres in China have become a hub of expertise, creativity and inspiration for both professionals and chocolate lovers.

“And this extends online too. We support our customers and empower chefs to be at their very own best. They can explore chocolate science, innovative techniques, and inspiring recipes together with the world-leading chocolatiers, pastry chefs and bakers.”

In a separate development in China’s food segment space, venture capital startup Bits x Bites has raised $30m in the first close of its new $70m agrifood tech fund.

Bits x Bites was backed by various investors, including Singapore’s Temasek, Heritas Capital Management, as well as by the CEO of the Philippine food company Monde Nissin.

The investment round has also seen participants from several food conglomerates and family offices in China and South-East Asia.