CAOBISCO Press Release

New CAOBISCO President and Vice Presidents

Added: 30 June 2010

Brussels, 12 July 2010 - At its 2010 General Assembly in Montreux, Switzerland, the General Council of CAOBISCO, the Association of the chocolate, biscuit and confectionery industries of Europe, appointed Mr. Didier R. FOCKING as President for the term 2010-2012.
 
In his new post, Mr FOCKING will primarily focus on shaping a framework for the confectionery industry to ensure a stable and sustainable future. Through its 2000+ companies, CAOBISCO represents more than 245,000 direct employees and generates more than 51 billion Euros annual turnover. CAOBISCO industries show a production of 10,4 million tons of products; 4,4 billion Euros of exports, i.e. 10% of the total value of food exports from the European Union; and an import value of € 1,2 billion.  In terms of raw materials usage we represent over 50% of world cocoa consumption, 30% of EU sugar consumption and are the major users of dairy and cereals.

Didier FOCKING started working for Nestlé Switzerland in 1974. He gained experience and the “know-how” of the chocolate market in various business units of the company in Switzerland as well as other European countries such as Germany and Austria, where he was Head of market. In 2002, he became Operations Manager of the European Chocolate Business and in 2006 he was designated Vice President of the Confectionery Strategic Business Unit in charge of Chocolate Development.

The General Council also elected Mr. Tobias BACHMÜLLER and Mr. Filippo CERULLI IRELLI as Vice-Presidents of CAOBISCO.

Filippo CERULLI IRELLI (Barilla) stepped down as President after completing his two-year term but remains as senior Vice-President.

Tobias BACHMÜLLER is Managing Director of Katjes Fassin Gmbh & Co in Germany. He is also Vice-president of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Süßwarenindustrie (BDSI), the German Confectionery Association.

ENDS