Yildiz Holding makes social investment in sustainable cocoa
Turkish firm Yildiz was already a member of the World Cocoa Foundation, but last week announced that it had invested in an Ivorian sustainable cocoa initiative created by Cémoi, Blommer Chocolate and Petra Foods brand Delfi in 2010.
In the first half of 2014, Yildiz’s money will go towards providing drinkable water at eight of the program's 15 PACTS centers in the Ivory Coast. The second objective is to provide solar lighting for each center.
Water & light
Sibel Hür, corporate communications manager at Yildiz Holding, told ConfectioneryNews: “The completion of drilling points should improve considerably the sanitary conditions of the entire community, reducing the number of diseases related to unsafe drinking water.”
“Implementation of solar lighting installations for each center will allow both interior and exterior lighting of the buildings, and also charging of electrical equipment for up to 7 hours per day. This will greatly increase security level at the centers, and better monitoring of the center.”
Yildiz refused to disclose how much it was investing.
Improving quality in top producing nation
Camille Daniel, communication assistant at Cémoi, told us about the principal aim of PACTS.
“The objective is to create a sustainable supply of cocoa in the Ivory Coast through from the farmers to the consumer.”
“The problem in the Ivory Coast is that the quality of the cocoa is very basic. It’s the first cocoa producer in the world, but it is not the first quality producer in the world."
She continued: "Thanks to the efforts of the Ivorian supply chain, the quality of cocoa is improving considerably and Cemoi is working to promote this quality with its premium cocoa Cacao Frais in Ivory Coast."
Around 5% of the Cémoi group’s cocoa volumes are covered by the PACTS program. It has set a goal for all the cocoa for its Cémoi brand to come from a sustainable source by 2020.
“After for the group it depends – it depends on the demand of our clients,” said Daniel.
She said that demand was growing, but said it was Cémoi’s responsibility to convince its clients that it was better for them to have sustainable cocoa in their products.
