Tony's Chocolonely is a chocolate company founded in 2005 with the explicit mission of ending exploitation in the cocoa industry. It produces chocolate that is 100% traceable from bean to bar, sourcing directly from farmers in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. The company's model is built around ensuring fair prices and humane working conditions for cocoa producers.
The business operates on a set of core sourcing principles, formalized through its "5 Sourcing Principles" and the Tony's Open Chain initiative. This framework is designed not only for its own supply chain but is also presented as a model for the wider chocolate industry to adopt. The company culture emphasizes demonstrating that commercial viability and ethical practices are not mutually exclusive.
Tony's Chocolonely sells its products as Fairtrade chocolate. Its founding involved the production of an initial 5,000 Fairtrade chocolate bars to prove that an alternative, exploitation-free supply chain was feasible. The company positions itself as part of a broader movement to change industry norms around cocoa sourcing and labor practices.
