Barry Callebaut AG has inaugurated its 20th Chocolate Academy center in Milan, Italy, led by Davide Comaschi, the winner of 2013’s World Chocolate Masters in Paris.  

Massimo Garavaglia, President EMEA, said in his opening speech: "The future for chocolate is bright, whether you look at it from an innovation perspective, or from a perspective of creativity, or from the perspective of new applications. Therefore, it’s really a good moment for all of us to celebrate. The success of our recent academy openings in Moscow, Dubai and Istanbul makes me confident that our new academy in Milan will turn out to be very successful very soon too, and I am sure that with this we have created something really beautiful for Italy, and even more so for the city of Milan".

He added: "In addition, it will be the first academy to develop recipes for artisanal gelato with real Belgian chocolate. I am convinced that this is only the start. Others may view Italy as a mature market and a difficult one, where you don’t need to invest, but I believe that this is the right moment to invest, and I am sure that the academy will be a way to draw a promising future for chocolate in Italy."