(Removes "world's biggest chocolate maker" descriptor in 1st paragraph)

(Reuters) -Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut reported lower than expected half-year operating profit on Wednesday, hit by one-off expenses caused by its transformation plan.

The Swiss-based company said its earnings before interest and tax fell 40% in local currencies to 178 million Swiss francs ($197 million) on a reported basis in the six months to the end of February, compared with 266 million francs expected by analysts in a company-provided consensus.

($1 = 0.9036 Swiss francs)