Dutch impact company Tony’s Chocolonely exists to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate. Not just its own chocolate, but all chocolate worldwide. Their powerful mission has arrived in New Zealand this week with the launch of six sensational chocolate bars available for chocolate lovers here to enjoy.
Tony’s Chocolonely was founded in 2005 by three journalists from the Dutch TV show ‘Keuringsdienst van Waarde’ after they discovered that the world’s largest chocolate manufacturers were buying cocoa from plantations that used illegal child labor and modern slavery. Investigative journalist Teun van de Keuken decided that things had to change within the industry, so he set up his own impact company producing chocolate to inspire other chocolate companies to join their mission towards a 100% slave-free chocolate industry.
Tony’s Chocolonely shows that chocolate can be made differently. Through direct, long-term relationships with cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast and by working closely together with partner Barry Callebaut, Tony’s has created a completely transparent and traceable bean-to-bar process. Tony’s pays a higher price for the Fairtrade cocoa beans, provides business and agricultural training to increase productivity on farms and works together with cooperatives in which farmers are united and stand stronger together. Furthermore, one percent of Tony’s Chocolonely net revenue is donated to the Chocolonely Foundation, supporting projects to eradicate modern slavery in the cocoa chain. They want to inspire the industry as a whole to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate.
Tony’s Chocolonely is crazy about chocolate, but serious about people. You will recognize them from the colorful wrappers that explode off the shelf, to the chunky unequally divided chocolate bars within, to reflect the social inequality of the chocolate industry. Tony’s Chocolonely Fairtrade bars spread its message in its purest form: things can be done differently.
The B-Corp certified company, which has become the bestselling chocolate brand in the Netherlands, has launched six 180g bars: Milk chocolate 32%, Extra dark chocolate 70% (DF), Milk chocolate caramel sea salt 32%, Dark chocolate almond sea salt 51% (DF), Milk chocolate hazelnut 32% and White chocolate raspberry popping candy 28%, available this week.
Tony’s Chocolonely has offices in the Netherlands, USA, the UK and DACH. Locally Tony’s Chocolonely is distributed by Auckland based couple Nick Brown and Becs Caughey from Cook & Nelson.
Brown says he’s delighted to introduce New Zealanders to a chocolate company that exists to better the world.
“It’s shocking that slavery is rife in chocolate production and to know that a lot of the chocolate consumed globally contributes in some way to suffering cannot be ignored. Tony’s Chocolonely exists to raise awareness of this and through collective pressure affect positive change. That is something we are proud to be a part of.
“It helps that the chocolate itself is phenomenal, with an incredible consistency and lots of exciting flavour combinations and it’s a testament that in many of the countries Tony’s has launched it’s become a market leader. We are really excited to finally be able to share Tony’s Chocolonely’s vision for slave free chocolate here in New Zealand”.
Molly Harriss Olson, Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand CEO says she and the team are delighted Tony’s Chocolonely is now available to New Zealand consumers.
“Now more than ever is the time for companies and consumers to make bold choices that can build the world we all want to live in. Tony’s Chocolonely is a leader in creating this better world – we couldn’t be happier to welcome them to the Fairtrade family in New Zealand. Choosing Tony’s Chocolonely Fairtrade chocolate is an easy but important action shoppers can take right now to show their support for vulnerable cocoa farmers and a future where social justice is the norm.”
Tony’s Chocolonely can be found in all good New World supermarkets and leading independent retailers nationwide including Farro Fresh in Auckland and online at www.cookandnelson.com. RRP for the 180g bar is $7.99. For more information see www.tonyschocolonely.com or to purchase online see www.cookandnelson.com.
Tony’s Chocolonely has launched a new advert narrated by actor Idris Elba, to shine the spotlight on the problems of slavery and child labour within the chocolate industry. View the video here.
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