Waitrose is extending its collaboration with Tony’s Open Chain to increase the use of responsibly sourced cocoa across its seasonal and boxed chocolate ranges.
The move follows the supermarket’s 2024 commitment, when it became the first UK retailer to join Tony’s Open Chain as a ‘Mission Ally’.
At launch, the programme included six Waitrose own-brand chocolate bars and three Cook’s ingredient bars made with segregated cocoa.
Through the latest expansion, Tony’s Open Chain Mass Balance will supply cocoa for more than half of Waitrose’s seasonal chocolate products.
The retailer will also enhance the responsible sourcing credentials of its own-label boxed chocolates. For the first time, these products will use Tony’s Open Chain’s mass balance “Bean to Machine” sourcing model alongside the Fairtrade Certified Cocoa already in place.
Rianne van Doeveren, general manager at Tony’s Open Chain said: “When we talk about impact, we’re talking about real families in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire whose livelihoods depend on cocoa.
“Waitrose’s extension of their partnership with Tony’s Open Chain is not symbolic, it’s a practical change.
“More cocoa will be flowing through a supply chain that commits to higher cocoa prices for the long term, traces the beans sourced, and invests directly in the communities that grow them.
“We thank Waitrose for their trust, dedication and passion in expanding the volume of cocoa sourced via our impact model, and proving that it’s possible to create more equitable supply chains.”
As part of the agreement, Waitrose will use 100% Traceable Beans. This will provide visibility of where the cocoa is cultivated and how it moves through the supply chain to at least the first cocoa processor, before the beans enter mass-balance mixing.
The financial benefits received by farmers working within Tony’s Open Chain will nevertheless remain unchanged under this approach. For the products covered, the impact will be equivalent to that delivered through the segregated supply chain model currently used for nine Waitrose block chocolate bars.
Marija Rompani, director of ethics & sustainability at John Lewis Partnership said: “We’re proud to extend our partnership with Tony’s Chocolonely through Tony’s Open Chain.
“Enhancing our responsible sourcing standards is an essential part of building resilient supply chains that deliver the high-quality ethically sourced products our customers expect, both now and in the future.”
