What do Barry Callebaut CEO change and sales figures mean for company? Summary
- Barry Callebaut volumes dropped sharply despite revenue rising through pricing actions
- Global cocoa sales plunged significantly, intensifying pressure across the wider market
- Investor confidence improved following Hein Schumacher’s appointment as new CEO
- Leadership change signals potential strategic shifts during volatile industry conditions
- Future performance will influence competitive dynamics throughout cocoa and chocolate sectors
Barry Callebaut’s three-month key sales figures for the fiscal year 2025/26 were released yesterday, but you’d be forgiven for failing to notice.
Why?
Because the world’s biggest cocoa and chocolate supplier pulled off a masterclass in misdirection – pushing focus towards the appointment of ex-Unilever boss Hein Schumacher as its new CEO.
And when we dig into the figures, it’s easy to understand their efforts.
To start with, Barry Callebaut’s volume sales took a 6.8% dive. On top of this, global cocoa sales volume declined by 22.0%. This works out to an overall group sales volume drop of 9.9%.
And while sales revenue did increase by 8.9% – totalling CHF 3.6bn (€3.8bn) – this was a direct result of pricing increases across the business.
Despite this, the multinational remains optimistic.
“Cocoa bean prices have reduced further since the start of the year and the crop is developing in line with our expectations,” said Peter Vanneste, CFO of Barry Callebaut Group, in a statement. “This is a positive signal for customer confidence and market behaviour into the second half of the year.”
He went on to say that the company’s clear priorities for FY 2025/26 are to prepare for a return to growth and to further deleverage.
Will Barry Callebaut split?
Rumours that Barry Callebaut is planning to separate its global cocoa business have been growing since they first surfaced in December 2025.
But Vanneste appeared to pour cold water on them, saying: “We remain fully committed to our integrated cocoa and chocolate strategy which creates significant competitive advantage and value for all stakeholders.”
Was this a little white lie to throw people off the scent, did the business consider a split but decide against it, or were the rumours completely unfounded?
Only time will tell.
Until then, we’ll be keeping a close eye on developments to see what Barry Callebaut’s next move will be.
New Barry Callebaut CEO
The news that ex-Unilever boss Hein Schumacher is to take the lead at Barry Callebaut has been well received by investors, with the chocolate maker’s share price climbing 7.9% in early European trading, before settling at 5% up on the day the appointment was announced.
“Trust in the previous leadership had been eroded for about a year, so a CEO change was long overdue,” says Matteo Lindauer, analyst for investment firm Vontobel. “Hein Schumacher brings a new fresh start to Barry Callebaut. This new chapter opens significant opportunities.”
Added to this, Schumacher is said to be “widely respected by the financial community”.
But he takes on the role at a pivotal time for the business and the pressure is on for him to impress.
“He’ll now need to rebuild confidence with investors and staff alike, and re-establish a positive culture within the group,” says Lindauer. “His deep industry relationships with Barry Callebaut’s key customers should be a major asset in this regard.”
Challenging times ahead
Though Barry Callebaut remains optimistic about the future, it’s up against significant headwinds.
“Climate volatility, geopolitical stability, and economic whiplash aren’t going away, and they’re increasingly demanding that organisations pivot continuously, not periodically,” says Nick Petschek, EMEA managing director of global change management firm Kotter. “Companies that build this muscle survive, those that don’t will see leaders replaced.”
In other words, Schumacher’s performance will be under close scrutiny. And let’s not forget, he’s the third CEO the business has engaged in the last five years, so failure to perform will likely result in yet another swift exit.
Barry Callebaut’s future
Schumacher’s arrival marks a turning point not only for Barry Callebaut, but for the broader cocoa and chocolate sector, which is wrestling with unprecedented volatility.
As the industry recalibrates after years of soaring bean prices, supply instability and shifting consumer habits, all eyes will be on how the company, which supplies, Nestlé, Mondelēz International, and Mars, Inc., chooses to adapt.
For Barry Callebaut, the coming months will be defined by two priorities – restoring momentum and proving that its integrated cocoa-and-chocolate model can thrive in a market that’s growing more complex by the day.
Should Schumacher succeed in stabilising performance and rebuilding trust, it could reinforce that vertically linked structures still offer an advantage in managing risk, securing supply, and developing innovation pipelines that meet customer needs.
But failure to do so could embolden rivals – from specialty players to sustainability‑driven start-ups – to accelerate their own expansion plans.
With the sector under pressure to deliver on traceability, cost containment, and climate resilience, leadership decisions at a company of Barry Callebaut’s scale frequently act as a bellwether for the rest of the market.
For now, investors, customers, competitors will be waiting to see how Barry Callebaut charts its path in a landscape where adaptability has become the ultimate differentiator.
