On the ground with our cocoa communities
At Whittaker’s, Ghana has a very special place in our story. It’s where we source most of our 100% Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa beans, and where we’ve built strong, personal relationships with the farmers and communities behind our chocolate.
Our co-Chief Operating Officer Holly Whittaker, who leads our sustainability strategy, recently took a trip to Ghana alongside our Head of Procurement, Michael Tannenbaum. Holly says the visit was a wonderful opportunity to see firsthand how Whittaker’s sustainability initiatives are progressing on the ground, connect with the cocoa cooperatives we work with, and plan for what’s next as we grow together to create a better future.
“Behind every block of Whittaker’s chocolate is a story that begins in the communities where our cocoa is grown, and who we are so proud to support. It was a privilege to visit the four cocoa cooperatives that we work with in Ghana, to learn and listen so we can continue to do our best to give back,” says Holly.
“One of the highlights for me was visiting the Asankrangwa cooperative. We have had a long relationship with the cocoa farmers in this community, and it was really special to see the impact of the initiatives we have supported.
“At all of the cooperatives, I also got to see how the shade trees we helped plant last year are doing. At Tarkwa-Huni Valley I was lucky enough to be taught the finer details of how these trees need to be planted to provide a protective canopy to cocoa crops and help improve biodiversity.”
Holly’s visit will help inform Whittaker’s next sustainability strategy update and our focus on continuous improvement in ethical sourcing as we strive to produce Good Honest Chocolate.
Since 2024, Whittaker’s has planted 170,000 shade trees across 2,200 hectares of land at the cocoa cooperatives we source from in Ghana. We have also worked closely with our on-the-ground partner, Agro Eco, to provide training to cocoa farmers in how to look after the shade trees so they can thrive.
“This planting has been very successful, and we have had really positive feedback from local cocoa farmers. We’re looking forward to doing more shade tree planting as part of our ongoing sustainability programme,” says Holly.
Holly also had the opportunity to meet with the Rainforest Alliance team on the ground to learn more about their strategy and how Whittaker’s can continue to support them.
“There’s no substitute for being there in person to meet the people we are working with and to see first-hand the challenges they face and how best to help. I look forward to future visits to Africa to connect with cocoa cooperatives and our partners in ethical sourcing,” says Holly.
As well as our commitment to using only 100% Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa beans, all Whittaker’s cocoa beans are also fully traceable. See how we’ve made this possible through geo-mapping farms in Ghana so that cocoa beans can be traced from farm to factory.
You can find out more about other ways Whittaker’s has been supporting our Ghanian farmers and their communities here.
To receive regular updates on the progress we’re making in Ghana, become a Chocolate Lover and we’ll keep you in the loop.