According to Hershey, this initiative is part of its 'Cocoa For Good' (CFG) strategy and aims to build lasting relationships with farmers in order to accelerate their success while enabling a responsible and resilient supply. 

Achieved through a memorandum of understanding at the JNCC, the heart of the agreement is a tripartite contract between Hershey, Sucden and the nine cooperatives.

According to Hershey, this approach aims to:

  • partner with farmers to professionalise cocoa farming and improve their profitability 
  • improve household wellbeing and work toward the elimination of child labour, and
  • preserve the environment and strengthen farm resilience.  

"We are establishing long-term relationships to partner with farmers and co-ops to modernise cocoa, improve profitability and community livelihoods and eliminate child labor," says Tricia Brannigan, Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer for Hershey.

The brand says that long-term collaboration among the three entities provides stability for farmers and an ability to more directly engage in addressing on-the-farm challenges.

This agreement aligns with Côte d'Ivoire's National Strategy for Sustainable Cocoa and meets the requirements of the Coffee and Cocoa Council. This harmonisation ensures a coherent and coordinated approach to addressing key challenges in the Ivorian cocoa sector, concludes Hershey. 

For more information, visit www.thehersheycompany.com. You can also follow Hershey on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of Hershey