In a universe where chocolate evokes pleasure, indulgence and sweetness, Tony’s Chocolonely shines with its own light, not only for its exquisite flavor, but for its energetic commitment to social justice. Emerged in 2005 from the vision of Dutch journalist Teun van de Keuken, also known as Tony, this chocolate company has a clear goal: eliminate modern slavery from the cocoa supply chain.
With more than 1.56 million children working illegally on West African cocoa plantations, Tony’s Chocolonely has emerged as a bastion in the fight against this unfortunate reality. And Tony sued himself for buying chocolate plantations that used slaves. Thus, his mission is to revolutionize the standard of the cocoa industry, ensuring that the chocolate that we all enjoy is free from the exploitation of human beings, as recovered by the TikTok account @fungicharge in one of his latest videos.
Beyond simply producing ethical chocolate, the company seeks to inspire systemic change across the industry. Through its B-Corp and Fairtrade certification, Tony’s Chocolonely not only pays a fair price to cocoa farmers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, but also works closely with them to address the root causes of modern slavery.
Additionally, the brand has established direct, long-term relationships with cocoa farmers, ensuring that they not only receive fair compensation, but also engage in initiatives to improve labor and social conditions in their communities.
Tony’s Chocolonely’s iconic packaging is not just an aesthetic issue, but a powerful message about the inequality embedded in the chocolate industry. Their unequally divided ounces illustrate the disparity in the supply chain.
“The bars have uneven pieces to symbolize inequality in the chocolate industry. The bottom of the bars represents the equator. The top pieces are the Gulf of Guinea. From left to right you have Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Baneen, Nigeria and part of Cameroon, which are the places most exploited by these huge chocolate corporations,” detailed @fungicharge in his video.
Tony’s Chocolonely’s vision has expanded beyond the borders of the Netherlands, where it has become a market leader, to reach consumers around the world. With offices in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, the brand is bringing its social justice message to new audiences and making a global impact.
