Finance
Barry Callebaut appoints former Unilever boss Schumacher as new CEO
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 21, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Summary
Barry Callebaut's Q1 sales volume dropped 9.9% due to cocoa price volatility and weak demand, falling short of analyst expectations.
Barry Callebaut appoints former Unilever boss Schumacher as new CEO
Leadership Changes at Barry Callebaut
Jan 21(Reuters) - Barry Callebaut on Wednesday said it would appoint former Unilever boss Hein Schumacher as its chief executive and reported first quarter results showing it sold less of its cocoa products than expected.
Sales Performance Overview
The company said its current CEO Peter Feld would leave his role on January 26.
Market Expectations
One of the world's top cocoa processors, which supplies chocolate for Magnum ice creams and Nestle's KitKat bars, said its sales volumes fell 9.9% to 509,401 tonnes in its first quarter that runs from September to November.
Analysts were expecting 512,000 tonnes on average in a company-provided poll.
It also confirmed its outlook for the current financial year.
(Reporting by Paolo Laudani and Danny Callaghan in Gdansk, editing by Matt Scuffham)
Key Takeaways
- •Barry Callebaut's Q1 sales volume fell 9.9%.
- •Sales volume was 509,401 tonnes, below expectations.
- •Cocoa bean price volatility impacted sales.
- •Weak demand contributed to the sales drop.
- •Analysts expected 512,000 tonnes in sales.
Frequently Asked Questions about Barry Callebaut appoints former Unilever boss Schumacher as new CEO
1What is sales volume?
Sales volume refers to the total quantity of products sold by a company during a specific period. It is a key indicator of a company's performance and market demand.
2What is market volatility?
Market volatility refers to the degree of variation in trading prices over time. High volatility indicates significant price fluctuations, while low volatility suggests stable prices.
3What is demand in economics?
Demand in economics refers to the desire of consumers to purchase goods and services at given prices. It is influenced by factors such as income, preferences, and price levels.