Dutch variety retailer HEMA has announced it is to join the Tony's Open Chain initiative, as it seeks to make its cocoa supply chain 100% 'slavery-free'.
As a partner in Tony's Open Chain, the retailer will eventually source all its cocoa through the chain and according to five cooperation principles.
Among other measures, HEMA will pay affiliated cocoa farmers in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire the living wage price for their 100% traceable beans.
The first chocolate products made from Tony's Open Chain cocoa will hit the shelves at HEMA next year.
Mission Partners
Tony's Open Chain already has 12 other partners, including, among others, Ben & Jerry's, Delicata from Albert Heijn, Aldi's Choco Changer, Jokolade, Vly, the Flower Farm, PLUS Supermarket, KoRo Source, Pleese, and Huel.
The partnership with Ben & Jerry's, announced in 2022, saw the launch of Chocolatey Love A-Fair, a new Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavour based on the Tony's Chocolonely milk caramel sea salt bar.
In addition, Tony's Chocolonely also announced plans to launch two new chocolate bars, Tony's Chocolate Love A-Fair, based on Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake and Chocolate Fudge Brownie variants.
Additional Funding
In June of this year, Tony’s Chocolonely announced that it raised an additional €20 million of capital from its existing shareholders to accelerate the delivery of its 'mission.'
The Dutch confectionery company said the money will be used to fund its rapid growth in multiple markets, as well as the growth of Tony’s Open Chain (its business-to-business ethical bean sourcing company).
Tony’s Chocolonely said that its efforts to fight exploitation in the cocoa supply chain is having a positive impact on the lives of cocoa farmers.
