Swiss Precision, Sweet Operations

In the 14th and last episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, we sit down with Laurens van den Berg, Chief Operations Officer at Läderach, to explore the high-stakes world of luxury chocolate manufacturing. With a background that spans electromechanical engineering, global management, and an INSEAD MBA, Laurens brings a uniquely analytical perspective to one of the world’s most coveted Swiss chocolate brands.

The conversation dives deep into his professional journey, from his early career steps in heavy production at Barry Callebaut across Indonesia, France, and Belgium, to his current role managing a fully vertically integrated supply chain that controls everything from the cocoa bean to the retail counter across more than 260 global boutiques.

Throughout the episode, Laurens shares invaluable insights into the daily realities of global operations. He breaks down the "chocolate butterfly effect"— how a minor shipping delay in West Africa can directly impact a customer walking into a boutique in Zurich — and discusses the delicate balance between high-tech automation and preserving the handcrafted soul of a family business founded in 1962.

From bridging the communication gap between shopfloor engineers and boardroom executives to managing cultural shock absorbers when leading diverse international teams, this conversation is a masterclass in operational excellence. Laurens also tackles the future of the industry, sharing his take on next-generation talent, real-time data integration, and whether trends like lab-grown cocoa are actual future realities or just industry hype.