In January of 2023, leading chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut officially opened its Asia Pacific Business Excellence Center (APAC BEC) in Petaling Jaya, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, which is a bustling city known as a hub for commerce and for its many popular attractions and local delicacies.

APAC BEC will function as a center of excellence, providing support across the company’s financial and accounting services, information management and technology, customer service and other corporate and shared service functions.

The facility is home to more than 100 employees and is the company’s third site in Malaysia. Barry Callebaut also operates a chocolate and cocoa factory in Port Klang and another cocoa factory in Pasir Gudang, Johor, both of which also house a research & development laboratory.

As Barry Callebaut continues to grow in the region, this growth needs to be supported by a strong hub that will focus on improving our processes and efficiencies. When deciding on the location for this center, Malaysia topped the chart, as it is renowned as a financial and shared services hub, in addition to having an extremely strong talent pool.