“Our sustainability plan,
The Chocolate Dream, focuses on education, community resilience,
and professional training, benefiting regions where we operate”
Could you discuss the quality control measures and certifications your company employs to ensure the highest quality cocoa ingredients? CF: We employ a comprehensive four-level quality control process, from field inspection to final review. We have certifications like Organic, Fair-Trade, and Rainforest Alliance, and we continuously enhance our methodologies. JO: Quality control is meticulous at every stage of production, including safety certifications like FSSC 22000 and environmental management with ISO 14001. We emphasise food safety and employ rigorous control checks. KC: Farmer training and sustainability programs are integral to ensuring that we source the highest quality cocoa ingredients from farms that have the best maintenance and post-harvest practices in place. Under the Cocoa Promise, 100% of cocoa in our direct supply chain is traceable up to the first point of purchase and 70% of all farmers participating in our direct supply chain have been mapped allowing us to monitor tree cover loss and assess Land Use Change and deforestation risks.
24 Kennedy’s Confection October 2023
Can you elaborate on your sourcing practices and relationships with cocoa farmers or cooperatives, particularly in terms of fair trade and ethical sourcing? CF: We empower cacao producers through our holistic program, addressing agricultural practices, lifestyle improvements, economic growth, and ethics. We build long- term relationships with farmers and communities, ensuring ethical sourcing and sustainability. JO: Our Creating Shared Value approach involves long-term relationships with employees, small grower associations, and communities. We create a more prosperous future based on their specific needs and context, aligning with fair trade and ethical sourcing. KC: Over the last decade we have collaborated with more than 60 partners across the industry, showing that business can be an important force to deliver societal change. One great example is the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, in which the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana joined with Cargill and other leading cocoa and chocolate companies - representing 85% of global cocoa usage - to end deforestation and restore forest areas. Balancing the wellbeing of farmers with the conservation and restoration of forests is one of the most pressing challenges in the cocoa sector. By using innovative technology, here at Cargill we are mapping farms, tracing cocoa, assessing deforestation risk, engaging suppliers and prioritising actions on the ground. Our actions, in collaboration with the Cocoa & Forest Initiative, play a crucial role in sequestering carbon stocks in West African forests and addressing climate change, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
KennedysConfection.com
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