Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has invested US$18 million (S$24.7 million) to expand its Singapore manufacturing facility.

The expansion involved installing a third production line, a chocolate chips/drops moulding line and a warehouse.

The new facilities were built within six months.

"This expansion is a strong sign of our commitment to Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region," said Barry Callebaut Group chief executive Antoine de Saint-Affrique.

"We have a growing customer base in Asia-Pacific and we are committed to serving these customers with an always greater level of efficiency."

The new chocolate chips/drops moulding line allows for the production of different recipes and products of various shapes.

The facility now also houses 2,600 sq m of warehouse space. This will help the firm deliver its chocolate products more quickly due to greater flexibility with stock-holdings.

Most of the chocolate produced in the factory is exported to global and local food manufacturers across the region.

The manufacturing plant sits on a 1.2ha site in Senoko South Road near Woodlands and is also the first industrial chocolate factory built here.

Besides the three lines for chocolate manufacturing, it houses a chocolate academy to test and develop new products and recipes as well as rooms for training sessions for chocolate artisans, pastry chefs, confectioners, bakers and caterers.

The company set up here in 1997, making Singapore its regional headquarters.

It now has more than 200 employees in Singapore and its sales office at Millenia Tower also houses its regional sales, supply chain management and corporate functions teams.