Tony's Chocolonely changes the world with one chocolate at a time!
Tony’s Chocolonely’s story began with awareness of the ills in chocolate and cocoa production industry. Eleven years ago, journalist Teun van de Keuken studied the use of forced labor in the cocoa production chain when making a documentary for the television program Keuringsdienst van Waarde (a Danish TV series on investigative journalism).
The information brought more pain: Teun van de Keuken was deeply shocked to find out that most of the cocoa-containing products sold in supermarkets were made by slave labor. Child labor had also often been used in production. This, of course, he found completely intolerable.
Tony’s Chocolonely’s story began with awareness of the ills of chocolate production. Eleven years ago, journalist Teun van de Keuken studied the use of forced labor in the cocoa production chain when making a documentary for the television program Keuringsdienst van Waarde (a Danish TV series on investigative journalism).
The information brought more pain: Teun van de Keuken was deeply shocked to find out that most of the cocoa-containing products sold in supermarkets were made by slave labor. Child labor had also often been used in production. This, of course, he found completely intolerable.
When van de Keuken tried to discuss the situation with cocoa manufacturers, many completely refused to talk. Teun decided to do something about it and the first fair trade Tony´s Chocolonely bar hit the world on November 29th, 2005. The first batch of 5,000 units was sold out in an instant, and the bigger batches of good-natured delicacies soon came to production.
The following year, van de Keuken registered his company and Tony´s Chocolonely began his work to eradicate slavery from the cocoa industry. To make the world a better place one chocolate at a time.
A clear goal: end slavery in the global chocolate industry
Even today, modern slavery thrives on cocoa farms in West Africa. This is due to the unfairly distributed cocoa production chain. Tony´s Chocolonely exists to change the situation for the better and to show other companies an example of how responsible chocolate production works. The use of child labor and modern-day slavery is illegal and must, in Tony´s Chocolonely's view, come to an end. Tony´s Chocolonely is therefore part of the solution to chocolate production that respects people and nature - not part of the problem of chocolate production, like too many other chocolate companies.
In the cocoa production chain, things just aren't fairly divided. The chain starts with millions of farmers producing cocoa, which in turn ends up with billions of chocolate-loving consumers. But what's in between? This sector is dominated by a handful of cocoa giants who make profits by buying cocoa at the lowest possible price. As a result, farmers live in persistent poverty, which leads to slavery and the use of child labor, Tony´s Chocolonely says.
Tony´s Chocolonely's five principles of responsibility
1. Traceability of beans
We trade directly and on an equal footing with cocoa farmers and their partners. Traceability works best when operating with familiar partners and farmers. So we don’t buy a giant pile of cocoa beans just “somewhere” but the beans we use are always traceable to the farm.
2. Fair, higher price
- We also pay higher premiums for the high quality of fair trade, so that cocoa farmers also get a decent living from their work.
3. Strong farmers
- We buy cocoa beans from skilled farmers and work in partnership with them to help them operate even more professionally and produce more even quality.
4. Long-term commitment - long-term partnerships
- We enter into five-year agreements with partners to facilitate their investments.
5. Improving productivity and cocoa quality
We strive to improve the productivity, diversity and quality of cocoa plantations through various programs in close cooperation with small farmers.
- We help farmers to make a better living, so they can also invest in the future. We train cocoa farmers and we also support new nurseries that produce cocoa trees. We also help with irrigation systems.
In 2020, Tony´s Chocolonely:
- bought 5,537,000 pounds of 100% traceable cocoa beans
- paid farmers 4,300,000 euros for cocoa beans
- providing a livelihood for 8,457 farmers and their families
Chocolate of good will changes the world
Tony´s chocolate is a delicious pleasure that we recommend to all chocolate lovers - and especially, to those who do not want to feel guilty when tasting delicacies.
- When you know what is going on in the cocoa industry, you can't close your eyes to it. As a consumer, you have the power and freedom to make the right choices every time you go shopping. Tony's is a sweet solution in the bitter cocoa world. We’re crazy about chocolate too - and seriously on the people’s side, Tony´s Chocolonely’s chocolate masters declare.
Almond sea salt chocolate is the most popular one
In Ruohonjuuri we sell the dark chocolates of Tony´s Chocolonely series and the most popular is almond chocolate made with sea salt.
Ruohonjuuri has asked Tony´s Chocolonely to change the cow's milk used in his milk chocolate for an organic quality so that the business is fair to the animals as well. In that case, we could also add a series of milk chocolates to Ruohonjuuri's selections. Tony´s Chocolonely has promised to clarify the matter - and we hope that this will also develop in the best possible way in the future.