Waitrose has partnered with Dutch chocolate company Tony’s Chocolonely to change the cocoa business, in a game-changing move for the UK retail sector. Waitrose will be the first UK retailer to join Tony’s Open Chain, a programme aimed at eliminating exploitation in cocoa supply chains, creating a new standard for industry sustainability and ethical procurement.
A Unified Mission
At the core of this collaboration is a common commitment to addressing the recurrent concerns of child labour, deforestation, and cocoa farmers’ struggle to earn a livable wage. Waitrose’s partnership with Tony’s Open Chain not only demonstrates its commitment to ethical standards, but also takes a key step towards driving industry-wide reform.
Waitrose’s Commercial Director, Charlotte Di Cello, underlined the company’s delight in guiding the UK market towards a more sustainable and exploitation-free cocoa business. The alliance not only strives to satisfy but also surpass the rising consumer demand for ethically sourced products, ensuring that sustainability becomes an unavoidable norm across all industries.
A Strategic Approach to Sustainability
The alliance is perfectly positioned to solve numerous major challenges affecting the cocoa sector. Waitrose pledges to openness by adhering to Tony’s Open Chain’s stringent sourcing criteria, which provide traceability from farm to store. This includes paying cocoa farmers a living income reference price, which is an important step towards assuring their financial stability and sustainability.
Sanne Van Zon-Arts, Head of Sales at Tony’s Open Chain, emphasised the significance of Waitrose’s participation in the project, which marks a watershed moment for the UK cocoa business. This alliance intends to provide customers with more ethical chocolate options, making a significant difference in the battle against exploitation.
Impact and Innovations
The collaboration has already shown benefits, with nine of Waitrose’s own brand chocolate bars being sourced via the Open Chain concept. These items, identified by a yellow Tony’s Open Chain ‘button’ on the package, represent a larger trend towards open and responsible sourcing procedures in the retail industry.
Furthermore, the effort has demonstrated its effectiveness by drastically lowering the frequency of child labour and deforestation in cocoa-sourcing regions while increasing farmer earnings by 62% in Côte d’Ivoire. Such accomplishments highlight the value of joint efforts to overcome structural difficulties inside global supply networks.
Beyond Chocolate Bars
Waitrose and Tony’s Chocolonely’s collaboration goes beyond product procurement; it’s about creating a new benchmark in the industry. By promoting Fairtrade-certified cocoa and guaranteeing that additional premiums are given to satisfy the Living Income Reference Price, the cooperation helps farmers while also encouraging sustainable agricultural practices.
The programme is also consistent with Waitrose’s long-standing commitment to community and sustainability, as demonstrated by the Waitrose Foundation’s major contributions in community initiatives throughout the world. This collaboration provides a comprehensive approach to ethical sourcing, combining economic, social, and environmental factors to reinvent cocoa’s future.
Looking forward
Waitrose and Tony’s Chocolonely are leading the way, and they welcome other retailers and brands to join them on this transforming journey. This relationship not only marks a significant milestone for both parties, but it also acts as a light of hope for cocoa growers and a call to action for the sector as a whole. A sustainable and exploitation-free cocoa business is within reach, guaranteeing a brighter future for everybody.
Source: https://www.johnlewispartnership.media/pressrelease/waitrose/details/19479
