Bernard Callebaut in receivership

[Rerun]

Hey.. I used to like Callebaut chocolates... but can't eat them anymore because of the whole diabetes thing.

Sorry to see any prominent Calgary business go into receivership. This negatively affects a lot of people and we aren't exactly in a boom period here in Calgary. Best of luck to them. Hope they get it all figured out and are up and running in the black.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by nik-

Awesome, some random Chocolate store in Belgium is better than a local place. How convenient for us all!

You can get equal quality to Bernard Callebaut at Zellers for a fraction of the price. Thats incredibly value and convenience.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

You can get equal quality to Bernard Callebaut at Zellers for a fraction of the price.

I have my doubts about this statement, but am curious to hear what specific brand you mean when you say this.

I love Callebaut myself, still use it for the occasional gift. Definitely pricey though, but I do like the taste quite a bit. I was always proud something like that came from Calgary....shame to hear this news.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I have my doubts about this statement, but am curious to hear what specific brand you mean when you say this.

I love Callebaut myself, still use it for the occasional gift. Definitely pricey though, but I do like the taste quite a bit. I was always proud something like that came from Calgary....shame to hear this news.

I probably don't have the most distinguished pallet. I just know chocolate that I brought home from Brugge has no equal according to my taste buds. Nothing can compare. That being said, I think Nathans hot dogs are awesome. So maybe I'm not the greatest judge of taste or quality when it comes to the culinary arts.

[Table 5]

I'm sure those Brugge chocos were pretty pretty great, they are Belgian after all.

The best chocolate I've ever had came in liquid form in Zaragoza, Spain. It was hot chocolate that tasted more like a delicious pudding. It was liquid awesome.

[VladtheImpaler]

I found both the Presidents Choice Dark and Walmart's Belgian Extra Dark to be superior to BC at a fraction of the price. As Cowperson said, way, way overrated and pretentious...

[chemgear]

Calgary Herald article today mentioned that he spent $5 million on real estate in 2007 for a dairy farm. Only got an offer of $2 million for it recently. The difference accounts for most of the $3.9 million he owes to the bank at least on paper.

[Shazam]

Sounds like ATB called in the loan.

[JBR]

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Calgary Herald article today mentioned that he spent $5 million on real estate in 2007 for a dairy farm. Only got an offer of $2 million for it recently. The difference accounts for most of the $3.9 million he owes to the bank at least on paper.

Sounds like he got swindled. Should have done more research before buying that particular place.

[SebC]

I'm a fan of Cote D'Or. Doesn't have the aftertaste a lot of chocolate does that makes you have to eat more chocolate to cover up it up.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Sounds like he got swindled. Should have done more research before buying that particular place.

Or did the value of the property just go down along with most real estate?

Really it was bad timing and often that's what business is all about - knowing when to expand/grow. If you time it wrong your moe-fuggered.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Or did the value of the property just go down along with most real estate?

Really it was bad timing and often that's what business is all about - knowing when to expand/grow. If you time it wrong your moe-fuggered.

Most real estate didn't drop 50% in value. Something's not kosher here.

And really, whats a chocolate factory buying a dairy heard for? Quality control?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Rerun

And really, whats a chocolate factory buying a dairy heard for? Quality control?

In all likelyhood he bought a business to vertically integrate his supply, and then all of a sudden sales drop, and he can't cut margins or he won't be able to support financing. I'm seeing this all over the place right now....companies that waaaaaaaay overextended themselves, and the bank is now calling their financing.


It's all good when you have a big name and Calgary companies are willing to pay through the teeth for your product as gifts and at Christmas parties, but when the economy goes sour it's luxuries like this that get the axe first.

[Rerun]

Chocolate makers should stick to making chocolate. You don't see dairy farmers buying chocolate factories...

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Chocolate makers should stick to making chocolate. You don't see dairy farmers buying chocolate factories...

Nestlé says bonjour.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Chocolate makers should stick to making chocolate. You don't see dairy farmers buying chocolate factories...

Flawed logic. You need dairy to make milk chocolate, but you don't need chocolate to make milk...

Refer to the Tron_fdc's post right above yours. When companies can successfully vertically integrate their supply it usually works out better for both the company and the consumer.

[MRCboicgy]

I was never a fan of Bernard for the price. I honestly prefer Lindt for a quick fix/gift. There's also tonnes of great international chocolate you can get in the city if you know where to look.

What is sad is a local business having issues, but when the value proposition isn't there, it's not a surprise.

[Young-Sneezy]

just get a bunch of kids to come to the factory and pick out the poorest one with his grandpa and get them to take over the factory. problem solved.

[ken0042]

According to Global News they are no longer accepting the gift cards that they sold.