Corporate Social Responsibility

At Blommer, we believe sustainability efforts in the cocoa community will benefit everyone involved in the cocoa supply chain through better quality, more consistent product and a sustainable future for the industry. Our industry has a responsibility to invest in the cocoa growing regions by providing the tools, technology and training necessary for the farmer to develop the skills required to increase yields, improve quality and become a stronger, educated seller to ensure the long term sustainability of the cocoa industry.

Sustainability Programs
Blommer is involved in several private sustainability programs in Indonesia, Ecuador and Ivory Coast. More than 40,000 farmers are participating in our sustainability programs in which farmers have experienced better crop yields and premium pricing through their participation.

Sulawesi Alliance of Farmers, Olam and Blommer Chocolate (SAFOB)
SAFOB is a sustainable farming program in Sulawesi, Indonesia that builds on the technical skills learned in the farmer field school initiatives developed by the World Cocoa Foundation by providing additional technical education, pricing incentives and global market access to farmers.

The program was created in partnership with global supply chain manager, Olam International. The program has increased over ten-fold since its inception in 2005. Farmers participating in the program have achieved production increases of 50-100 percent and premium pricing consistent with quality gains.

Côte d’Ivoire Alliance of Farmers, Olam International
and Blommer Chocolate (CIFOB)
CIFOB is a program developed to help cocoa farmers in West Africa to revitalize their cocoa farms and improve cocoa quality to improve farmer incomes. The program is modeled after SAFOB, and proper post-harvest practices are the focus of the training. Todays 40 cooperatives providing more than 20,000 metric tons of sustainable cocoa are partnering with Blommer in the CIFOB Program.

Cocoa Livelihoods Program
In 2009, Blommer joined forces with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and other industry members to launch the Cocoa Livelihoods Program, a comprehensive $40 million program targeted to reach 200,000 farmers in five Central and West African countries. The program has a goal of doubling the income of one-third of Africa’s cocoa farmers with small family farms through farmer training on sustainable production techniques and quality issues.

World Cocoa Foundation
Blommer Chocolate was a founding member of the World Cocoa Foundation and continues to actively participate in the global programs. World Cocoa Foundation is committed to promoting economic and social development and environmental stewardship in all 15 cocoa-producing countries around the world. Blommer Chocolate has been active in the organization since its inception.

Processors Alliance for Cocoa Traceability and Sustainability (PACTS)is a new, $3 million cocoa sustainability partnership supporting farmers in Ivory Coast, West Africa. PACTS is developed in conjunction with Cemoi Chocolatier of France and Petra Foods of Southeast Asia, and the mission is to improve the supply of high quality, fermented cocoa beans while improving the livelihood of the local farming community.

The program focuses on the establishment of fermentation centers that help the farmer improve post-harvest processing and improve bean quality. The fermentation centers also act as a hub from which farmers can improve their agronomy skills and understanding, with a goal of increasing crop yields and, ultimately, farmer incomes.