Hershey, Pennsylvania - The Hershey Company has entered a five-year collaboration with nine cocoa cooperatives in Côte d'Ivoire.

This initiative is part of Hershey's broader "Cocoa for Good" strategy, which involves a $500 million investment over ten years aimed at tackling the myriad challenges that cocoa farmers face.

The partnership was unveiled during the National Cocoa and Chocolate Days in Abidjan, emphasizing Hershey's commitment to a sustainable cocoa industry.

Under the memorandum of understanding signed with Sucden and the cooperatives, the collaboration will focus on professionalizing cocoa farming to boost profitability, investing in community resources to enhance household wellbeing, and implementing environmentally friendly practices to strengthen farm resilience.

Tricia Brannigan, Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Hershey, highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to improving farmer incomes, stressing that effective collaboration is built on trust and enduring partnerships.

This agreement aligns with Côte d'Ivoire's National Strategy for Sustainable Cocoa, ensuring a coordinated effort to address key challenges in the sector.

Hershey is also investing in community development, exemplified by its $40 million Income Accelerator program launched in 2023 and ongoing construction of primary schools in farming communities, aimed at combating child labor, trafficking, and exploitation in collaboration with local and international bodies.

To view current Food Technologist jobs, visit https://www.careersinfood.com/food_technologist-jobs-food-manufacturing.cfm

Photo by: thehersheycompany.com