Many people likely have a sweet tooth for a piece of chocolate—as it’s a rich and indulgent treat that captivates the senses with smooth, velvety textures that come with complex flavors.. With numerous brands available, you can easily find one that suits your taste! Suppose you find yourself strolling through the candy aisle as you stumble upon the brand “Tony’s Chocolonely”. You might wonder what makes it special. Unlike other chocolate bars, Tony's is larger, weighing in at 6.35 oz. But why does that set it apart from the rest?

Tony’s Chocolonely isn’t an ordinary brand of chocolate—it's a company driven by a mission to ensure it’s made without exploitation. Founded in 2005 by Dutch journalist “Teun van de Keuken”, the brand began its investigation into child labour and modern slavery in the cocoa industry. Appalled by their discovery, Teun took to unwrapping the bitter truth before creating a chocolate brand that would prove slave-free and ethical chocolate is possible.  

According to “Child Labor in the Production of Cocoa”, it's estimated that 1.56 million children are engaged in child labour on cocoa farms in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The global chocolate industry, particularly in West Africa (where 60% of the world's cocoa is sourced), has been troubled by forced labour and child exploitation. Many cocoa farmers are paid as little as $2.12-2.39, their living income being nonexistent. This results in children being forced into labour to ensure the farms run. The issue is ingrained in practices of major corporations prioritizing profit over fair wages as well as economic inequality. 

So, what does Tony do to establish their message? They follow “Tony’s 5 Sourcing Principles”. Tony's Open Chain states, “Our farmer-first approach prioritizes human rights and environmental protection, aiming to reverse institutionalized inequality. By combining these 5 Sourcing Principles – traceability, higher prices, long-term commitments, strong farmer partnerships, and enhanced quality and productivity”. They highlight their prioritization of communication with the farmers, seeking ways to not only pay fair wages for them but also find traceable supply chains to ensure it is dealt with responsibly.

Tony’s Chocolonely offers a variety of chocolates and bars in different sizes, including vegan options and customized commissions for your bar! The pieces of each bar are divided unevenly to symbolize the wages of farmers. Next time you choose chocolate, think about the quality of what you’re buying. Is it the sweet treat you’ve been hoping for?

Sources:

https://us.tonyschocolonely.com/

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/our-work/child-forced-labor-trafficking/child-labor-cocoa 

https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2024/07/17/Living-income-in-cocoa/#:~:text=Cocoa%20farmers'%20living%20income%20is,)%20for%20C%C3%B4te%20d'Ivoire.