Callebaut celebrates the success of its extensive brand heritage and expertise, marking 100 years of making the Finest Belgian Chocolate for chocolate professionals all over the world.

With the “100 years 100 faces 100 reasons” campaign, Callebaut honors the skills and passion of its customers and the larger global community of chocolate artisans.

The campaign consists of a series of promotional activities, anniversary packaging, competitions, special events – and also a dedicated website.

Confectioners, bakers and pastry chefs have the chance to win one of five trips to a cocoa farm in Ghana as part of a contest.

Since 1911, Callebaut has become the preferred partner for chocolate and chocolate-related products for skilled professionals active in the confectionery, pastry, restaurant and catering communities. This year, Callebaut is proud to celebrate its anniversary: 100 years of Callebaut Finest Belgian Chocolate.

With the year-long “100 years 100 faces 100 reasons” campaign, Callebaut is commemorating the success of its iconic chocolates, such as 811 (dark), 823 (milk) and W2 (white), which have all set new standards for the category and have long been praised by the global chocolate community. Just last week, the first batch of Callebaut chocolate wrapped in the specially designed anniversary packaging left the chocolate factory in Wieze, the home of Callebaut chocolate. The celebration of the 100th anniversary of Callebaut chocolate will continue throughout 2011 with promotional activities, competitions and special events worldwide – all aimed at saying thank you to everyone related to the brand and highlighting Callebaut’s best-in-class products.

On the basis of its Belgian chocolate heritage and through its extended know-how and expertise, Callebaut has been supporting its customers all over the world for an entire century, offering superior quality chocolate products for every possible application. Callebaut’s strengths are also due to its presence in origin countries. It’s the only Belgian chocolate that works across the entire value chain – from the cocoa bean to the finished chocolate product, guaranteeing the highest level of quality and committed to sustainable sourcing.

Juergen Steinemann, CEO of Barry Callebaut, Callebaut’s parent company, said: “Many different people are connected to the Callebaut brand – from cocoa farmers to confectioners, from roasters to chefs – and each for their own reason. That is why “100 years 100 faces 100 reasons” is the centennial’s main theme. We want to put chocolate professionals – our customers – in the spotlight, let them talk about their passion and Callebaut, and reward them for their loyalty, trust and belief in the brand.”

As part of the 100th anniversary celebration, a special website and competition for chocolate professionals has been launched. The new “Callebaut 100 Years” website (www.Callebaut100Years.com) commemorates the history of the fine Belgian chocolate brand and features:

· Personal testimonials from professionals in the confectionery, pastry, bakery and hospitality communities, explaining why they enjoy using Callebaut chocolate in their creations

· Snapshots of major milestones in the brand’s history – from the first chocolate bars and blocks that were produced in 1911 to the myriad of innovations that have changed the gourmet segment since that time

· An interactive guide that shows how the finest Belgian chocolate is made – from the cocoa bean to the finished product

In addition to launching the “Callebaut 100 Years” website, Callebaut is sponsoring a contest in which confectioners, bakers and pastry chefs can enter for the chance to win one of five trips for two to a cocoa farm in Ghana, where they will be able to observe firsthand how cocoa beans are grown, harvested, fermented and dried before being shipped to Barry Callebaut’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities around the world. Other prizes to be awarded include 100 free courses at one of Barry Callebaut’s 13 Chocolate Academies around the world and 100 free 100-kilogram bags of Callebaut chocolate.

To enter the contest, chocolate professionals must submit their name, upload a picture of him or herself, and submit a testimonial about why they enjoy working with Callebaut chocolate at www.Callebaut100Years.com. The contest runs now through Sept. 1, 2011. Winners will be announced at the end of October 2011.

Today, Callebaut is one of the two global brands of Barry Callebaut, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate, dedicated to the professional users of chocolate. Callebaut’s wide range of chocolates, coatings, fillings, nut products and decorating products are traditional favorites with chocolate artisans and chefs.

Through its global network, Callebaut is close to its customers in four continents and in over 20 countries. For more information, visit www.callebaut.com.