Chocolate and cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut has reported continuing sales growth for the first three months of fiscal 2008/09. The firm’s sales volume grew by 2% and sales revenue rose by 7.2% in local currencies. However, growth in the reporting currency - CHF (Swiss francs) - was up by only 0.7% to CHF1,429.1m (£895.6m).

Callebaut said demand fell in the last month of the quarter to 30 November 2008, as "the entire chocolate industry faced weakening market conditions".

The company has also opened a new chocolate factory in Mexico, strengthening its base in the North American chocolate market. The factory, in Monterrey, will produce around 100,000 tonnes annually and will act as a gateway between the company’s Central and South American markets. It cost approximately US$40m (£29.3m).