Waitrose has become the first UK retailer to partner with Tony's Open Chain, an initiative created to end exploitation in the cocoa industry.
Through Tony's Open Chain model, cocoa has been sourced and used within six Waitrose chocolate bars and three Cook's ingredients bars.
The initiative, started by Tony's Chocoloney, supports more sustainable cocoa sourcing throughout the industry.
Waitrose is the first UK retailer to join this mission, following in the footsteps of global brands Ben & Jerry's and Albery Heijn.
"We're proud to be the first UK retailer to join Tony's Chocolonely in their mission to end cocoa exploitation, but we definitely hope we aren't the last," said Charlotte Di Cello, Waitrose's commercial director.
"Joining as a Mission Ally is crucial to helping set a new industry standard; in a world where sustainability is no longer optional but essential, we want not just to meet but exceed our customers' expectations for responsibly and ethically sourced, high-quality food across the UK and international supply chains."
By joining Tony's Open Chain as a 'Mission Ally', Waitrose has committed to its five sourcing principles. These include rigorous sourcing standards such as robust traceability, paying the living income reference price for cocoa and building long-term partnerships with partner cooperatives to support farmers and develop thriving cocoa communities.
All of Tony's Open Chain cocoa is Fairtrade certified and is verified to be deforestation-free. To reduce the living income gap for cocoa farmers, Waitrose has paid an additional premium on top of the Fairtrade certified bean price to reach the Living Income Reference Price.
"We are thrilled to welcome Waitrose as a new mission ally in Tony's Open Chain," said Sanne Van Zon-Arts, head of sales at Tony's Open Chain.
"Being the first UK retailer to join us, Waitrose will pave the way for changing the norm in cocoa and offering consumers more opportunities to choose responsible chocolate for which farmers are paid the living income reference price. Together we will make significant impact and take serious steps to end exploitation in cocoa."
Through sustainable practices, Tony's Open Chain minimised child labour rates from 46.7 percent, the industry average, to 4.4 percent.
All cocoa in Waitrose's own brand lines sourced outside of Tony's Open Chain is becoming Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certified, offering customers cocoa products that bring direct economic and environmental benefits to producers and their communities.
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