Sir; The food writer Joanna Blythman is entirely wrong to tar Divine Chocolate with the ethical sell-out brush (Second Opinion, The Grocer,).
In this respect, we want to make very clear to readers the difference between Divine Chocolate's position and that of Green & Black's.
Divine Chocolate, the only Fairtrade chocolate company that is a third-owned by the farmers who supply the cocoa, has not and is not seeking any ownership relationship with a multinational business.
Our mission is to deliver as much benefit as possible to West African cocoa growers, by selling a popular and delicious chocolate here in the United Kingdom.
We will not and cannot do anything to jeopardise this mission.
Divine is a Fairtrade chocolate company, which through an entirely unrelated acquisition in which it was not involved has ended up with a very small stake being ultimately owned by a major multinational company. Green & Black's courted and secured a 100% buyout by a multi-national.
Ownership is about power and income. The Kuapa Kokoo farmers co-operative's 33% share in Divine Chocolate will continue to give them power in, and income from, Divine that is far more significant than any minority stakeholder would ever have.
In this respect, we want to make very clear to readers the difference between Divine Chocolate's position and that of Green & Black's.
Divine Chocolate, the only Fairtrade chocolate company that is a third-owned by the farmers who supply the cocoa, has not and is not seeking any ownership relationship with a multinational business.
Our mission is to deliver as much benefit as possible to West African cocoa growers, by selling a popular and delicious chocolate here in the United Kingdom.
We will not and cannot do anything to jeopardise this mission.
Divine is a Fairtrade chocolate company, which through an entirely unrelated acquisition in which it was not involved has ended up with a very small stake being ultimately owned by a major multinational company. Green & Black's courted and secured a 100% buyout by a multi-national.
Ownership is about power and income. The Kuapa Kokoo farmers co-operative's 33% share in Divine Chocolate will continue to give them power in, and income from, Divine that is far more significant than any minority stakeholder would ever have.
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