Sustainable Cocoa plan improves communities

The Hershey company, a leading producer of chocolate in North America, says it is will combine responsible strategic practices to expand the supply of sustainable cocoa while investing in community programmes that improve education and the livelihoods of cocoa-growing families around the world.

The Hershey 21st Century Cocoa Plan also includes accelerating and expanding its innovative and successful Cocoa Link mobile phone programme, which the company launched in 2011 in Ghana with the Ghana Cocoa Board and the World Cocoa Foundation. 

The company is now expanding these initiatives to modernise cocoa farming and increase farmer incomes, attract new farmers and improve cocoa growing communities.

“Cocoa is at the heart of our business, and we care deeply that this key ingredient is grown in a safe, healthy and sustainable manner," said John P. Bilbrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company.

"Through our Hershey 21st Century Cocoa Plan, we are taking meaningful and measurable steps and making a positive difference in the health and well-being of cocoa communities.

"This is a watershed moment for our industry to work together with cocoa growing nations to increase opportunities for farmers through better training, financing and community development. The complexity of the challenges requires us to work together with a focused plan."

A cornerstone of Hershey's 21st Century Cocoa Plan is its commitment to source 100 percent third-party certified cocoa for all of its chocolate products worldwide by 2020.

Certified cocoa is verified by independent auditors who assess against established standards for labour, environmental and sustainable farming practices. 

With about five percent of the world's cocoa supply certified at the end of 2012 and the need for certified cocoa growing, Hershey believes its 2020 commitment -- announced last October -- is already helping expand the global supply of certified cocoa.

In the five months since announcing its 100 percent third-party certified cocoa commitment, Hershey has made substantial progress toward its 2020 goals. The company is on track to source at least 10 percent of its total global cocoa purchases from certified sources in 2013, the first year of its 2020 commitment.

Hershey also announced benchmarks for reaching 100 percent by 2020. The company has committed to scaling its certified cocoa purchases at the following rate.

The company will continue to provide updates on its certified cocoa progress throughout the next seven years as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility reporting.

In 2013, the programme will expand into Cote d'Ivoire, a major cocoa-producing country.

The Hershey Company is the largest producer of chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. The company has operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees. 

With revenues of more than US$6.6billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names. The company is focused on growing its presence in key international markets such as China, Mexico and Brazil while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United States and Canada.