Tony’s Chocolonely shows growth in corona time | Financial

Worldwide sales doubled. “We benefited a little bit from the corona crisis in which more people bought treats. Consumers are increasingly finding us better ”, CEO Henk Jan Beltman explains the growth.

In the past financial year, which ended September 30, turnover in the Netherlands grew by 14 percent from 53.5 million euros to 61.2 million euros. Worldwide, the company generated more than a quarter more than last year, with 88.4 million euros compared to 69.6 million euros last year. Tony’s Chocolonely now controls more than 16 percent of the Dutch chocolate bar market. Last year this was almost 19 percent.

The two stores in Amsterdam had to close because of the crisis. The announced chocolate factory in Zaandam was also postponed because no real estate deal could be concluded yet. The company continues to add new stores abroad. Tony’s Chocolonely reports the figures on the occasion of the 15th anniversary that the company is celebrating with a major event in Amsterdam. Actor Idris Elba and musician Pharrell Williams are coming. Williams also becomes a shareholder.

Slave-free chocolate

The company, founded in 2005, aims to make 100 percent slave-free chocolate. That is not so easy, according to recently released reports on the cocoa industry. For example, the industry is still struggling with low wages for cocoa farmers, child labor and deforestation, the Cacao Barometer showed. According to the barometer, Tony’s cocoa farmers also pay too little.

Instead of the calculated $ 3.12 per kilo, Tony’s pays about $ 2 per kilo. Beltman disputes the criticism: “With Max Havelaar we have determined what a living income is. That is still pure poverty. We are far from perfect, but in the market no one pays more for a kilo of cocoa than we do. ”

Another report from the University of Chicago found that 1.56 million children work under illegal conditions in the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two largest cocoa producers. Tony’s reports to have encountered child labor 387 times in the more than 8,000 farmers with which they do business. These were all light forms of child labor, according to Beltman, such as lifting bags that are too heavy or improper protective clothing.

Tony’s was able to solve 221 cases by educating parents and money for the education of children. Other cases are still being worked on. Excluding farmers with whom these kinds of cases occur is not an option, Beltman believes. “They are forced to do so because they cannot afford that school. We have to take our responsibility. ”

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