Crazy about chocolate, serious about people

The Dutch Embassy held an event hosted by Tony’s Chocolonely a chocolate producer. You might be wonder about the purpose of chocolate event. It was to highlight some of the issues within the cocoa industry. Many of you might not know that the cocoa harvesters often have appalling working conditions and Tony’s Chocolonely is trying to rectify this situation

Aaron Li, Reporter

A Dutch reporter, Teun van de Keuken,  launched an investigation into  slavery within the cocoa industry. It turns out that the world’s largest chocolate makers use slaves to harvest their cocoa – child slaves. Since 2005, Tony’s Chocolonely has had the objective of driving slavery out of the cocoa industry.

The Dutch Embassy hosted this event to highlight a company that takes its Corporate Social Responsibility  (CSR) seriously.  Everyone who attended got a chance to taste  100% slave free chocolate.  Guests also had a chance to see  “The Chocolate Case” a documentary telling the story behind Tony’s Chocolonely. It is about CSR and the search for that within existing cocoa producers. CSR is a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.chocolate

Since 2005 Tony’s Chocolonely has introduced different flavours to their chocolate bars and guests got to taste them all from milk chocolate to a dark pecan coconut flavour.  An interesting part about their chocolate bars is that the bars are unequally divided. The aim of this is to create awareness that other chocolate bars are not created by producers who share profits equally.

Tony’s Chocolonely  strategy is based on three stages with a goal of reaching 100% slave free chocolate. Creating awareness is their first phase. Hosting events and spreading the word with their chocolate bars helps consumers know and understand the reality of the cocoa industries. Enjoy the chocolate, but understand the reality.

Leading by example is their second phase. In 2012 they began buying cocoa directly from cocoa farmers in Ghana and the Ivory coast. “Bean to bar” is the approach they use to fairly distribute everything in their business. They enter into long term business relationships with the cocoa farmers and give them fair prices and financial stability so that they can invest in the future, but most importantly stop slavery.

Inspiring others to act is the third phase of their program. By regularly sharing their business models and inviting other companies to cooperate they are working to create a 100% slave free cocoa industry.

 What can you do as a consumer?

Every consumer of chocolate can help create change by making wise purchases. By creating awareness and following a trend you can limit your consumption of chocolate products that aren’t fair trade or use slaves to harvest the raw products. You can follow Tony’s Chocolonely on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where you can hear about events like the one at the Dutch Embassy. You can also look out for Tony’s Chocolonely bars in the stores. At the moment you can get them at Urban Deli and Apotea and some supermarkets, but expect them to be in more stores soon.

all-bars
100% slave free chocolate bars

 

A special thanks to Ms. Halewijn for giving  the Quirky Quibbler an opportunity to experience an event like this.

For more information see: http://www.tonyschocolonely.com/en/