Tony's Chocolonely

Tony's Chocolonely is a Dutch chocolate company that is known for its commitment to producing chocolate in an entirely slave-free manner. The company was founded in 2005 by Teun van de Keuken, a Dutch journalist and television presenter.

History

Teun van de Keuken founded Tony's Chocolonely after discovering the widespread use of child labor and slavery in the cocoa industry. He was inspired to create a chocolate company that was completely free of these practices. The company's name is a play on van de Keuken's first name (Tony) and the word 'lonely', reflecting his initial struggle to change the industry.

Mission and Practices

Tony's Chocolonely's mission is to make 100% slave-free the norm in chocolate. The company aims to demonstrate that it's possible to produce chocolate in a more ethical and sustainable way, without exploiting cocoa farmers. They work directly with cocoa cooperatives in Ghana and Ivory Coast, paying them a higher price for their cocoa to ensure a living income.

The company also invests in agricultural training for farmers to increase productivity and quality, and helps to build social infrastructure in farming communities.

Products

Tony's Chocolonely offers a variety of chocolate products, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and a range of limited edition flavors. All of their chocolate bars are unequally divided, a design choice that reflects the inequality in the chocolate industry.

Impact

Tony's Chocolonely has made a significant impact in the chocolate industry. The company's practices have raised awareness about the issues of child labor and slavery in the cocoa industry, and have influenced other companies to take steps towards more ethical practices.

See Also

• Fair trade
• Sustainable agriculture
• Child labor
• Slavery in the 21st century