Waitrose expands Tony’s Open Chain partnership to boost ethical cocoa sourcing
Waitrose is expanding its partnership with Tony’s Open Chain to enable it to source more cocoa responsibly for its seasonal and boxed chocolate ranges.
Under the expanded agreement, over half of Waitrose’s seasonal chocolate will now be sourced via Tony’s Open Chain Mass Balance model. Waitrose is also strengthening the sourcing credentials of its own-label boxed chocolates by using Tony’s Open Chain “Bean to Machine” mass balance model for the first time, alongside its existing Fairtrade Certified Cocoa sourcing.
Subscribe to TRBThe move builds on Waitrose’s 2024 agreement, when the supermarket became the first UK based retailer to join Tony’s Open Chain as a “Mission Ally.” The initial roll out covered six Waitrose own brand chocolate bars and three Cook’s Ingredients bars, using segregated cocoa.
Rianne van Doeveren, general manager at Tony’s Open Chain, said: “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.
“These farmers deserve partners who show up properly, and that’s exactly what Waitrose is doing. 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.”
