In the first 9 months of fiscal year 2016/17 (ended May 31, 2017), the Barry Callebaut Group grew its sales volume by 2.8% to 1.415 million tonnes. The company achieved this growth in a global chocolate confectionery market that declined by - 0.6% over the last 9 months, but recently bounced back with a growth of + 2.3% during the last 3 months of the period (source: Nielsen-chocolate confectionery from August 2016 until April 2017 – 26 countries). Barry Callebaut achieved solid volume growth across all regions over the first 9 months, with an acceleration in Q 3 (+ 5.5%). This good momentum was supported by its key growth drivers Gourmet & Specialties (+ 11.6%), Outsourcing (+ 9.7%) and Emerging Markets (+ 3.3%). For the first 9 months, the intentional phase-out of less profitable cocoa contracts weighed on overall volume development, but sales volume in Global Cocoa for Q 3 was back at the same level as the prior-year period. The phase-out of these contracts, amounting to 50,000-60,000 tonnes overall, has now been completed. Sales revenue increased by + 2.9% in local currencies (+ 3.7% in CHF) to CHF 5.194 bn, in line with volume growth and a better product mix, offset by lower cocoa bean prices.