PUBLISHED ARTICLE
A Collaborative Approach to Cocoa Sustainability
The Manufacturing Confectioner • May 2011
The subject of cocoa sustainability is garnering increased attention from members of the cocoa supply chain as well as among consumers across the world. And for good reason; it is clear that the challenges at origin are many, including insufficient infrastructure, education and income levels that challenge farmers in the cocoa sector and also pose a threat to our industry in terms of future cocoa availability.... Download File.
PRESS RELEASE
Largest Cocoa Shipment from Africa’s Ivory Coast Destined for Blommer Chocolate
East Greenville,
Pa., February 10, 2011
Blommer Chocolate, North America’s largest processor of cocoa beans and ingredient chocolate products, today announced the single, largest cocoa bean shipment from West Africa is destined for their facility. The vessel, the Atlantic Tramp, carried 18,400 metric tons of cocoa, most of which is sustainably farmed, Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa and Blommer Project Cocoa... Download File.
Blommer's History in Print
Blommer: An American Chocolate Legacy
by Beth Kimmerle
Beth Kimmerle, chocolate and candy expert and historian, has served the confectionery industry as a writer and consultant. Beth worked for Fannie May Candies before advancing her talents to Starbucks Coffee Company. She has worked on candy museums and exhibits in the U.S., Sapporo, Japan, Canada and currently, San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is the author of four books documenting the history of America's confectionery industry.
If you are interested in purchasing this book, please contact Leanne Hicks at klhicks@uc.blommer.com or
1-800-533-4301
Cost : $25.00 + shipping
PRESS RELEASE
Blommer Chocolate Wins Award for Excellence at Canadian Specialty Coatings Plant
Cambpellford, ON, September 7, 2010
Blommer Chocolate, North America’s largest processor of cocoa beans and ingredient chocolate products, today announced its Canadian branch has been awarded the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) Award of Excellence at the association’s national manufacturing conference. Download File.
PRESS RELEASE
Blommer Chocolate Announces Cocoa Sustainability Partnership Supporting Ivory Coast Farmers
East Greenville,
Pa., May 19, 2010
Blommer Chocolate, North America’s largest processor of cocoa beans and ingredient chocolate products, today announced a new $3 million cocoa sustainability partnership supporting farmers in Ivory Coast, West Africa. Download File.
PRESS RELEASE
Blommer Chocolate Company Names Peter Blommer President and Chief Operating Officer, Confirms Commitment to Long-term, Profitable Growth
September 23, 2009
Blommer Chocolate Company, North America’s largest cocoa bean processor and ingredient chocolate products supplier, today announced that Peter Blommer has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Download File.
PRESS RELEASE
Blommer Chocolate Company Announces Line of Sustainably Sourced, Rainforest Alliance Certified™ Cocoa and Ingredient Chocolate Products
East Greenville,
Pa., June 25, 2009
Blommer Chocolate Company, North America’s largest processor of cocoa beans and ingredient chocolate products, today announced a new initiative with the Rainforest Alliance to produce a line of certified cocoa and ingredient chocolate products. Download File.
BLOMMER
CHOCOLATE ANNOUNCES MILESTONES IN SUSTAINABLE FARMING EFFORTS IN
INDONESIA
Cocoa Farmer Field School Program (SAFOB) Increases Nearly Tenfold ;
New USAID Parallel Program Will Double
East Greenville,
Pa., May 30, 2007…
Blommer Chocolate, North America’s largest processor of cocoa beans and
ingredient chocolate products, announced today that its sustainable
farming program in Sulawesi, Indonesia, operated in partnership with
global supply chain manager Olam International, is approaching its
second anniversary and expects to reach up to 20,000 cocoa farmers in
2007, a figure nearly ten times higher than the number of farmers since
the inception of the program in 2005. The program, known as SAFOB or
Sulawesi Alliance of Farmers, Olam and Blommer Chocolate, builds on the
technical skills learned in the farmer field school initiatives
developed by the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), of which Blommer and Olam
are members, by providing additional technical education, pricing
incentives, and global market access to farmers.
SAFOB, which was started in 2005 by Blommer and Olam, includes
agricultural programs focused on teaching modern farming techniques that
help improve cocoa crop yields and quality. The program also teaches
organizational and business skills that help farmers navigate the global
cocoa market and improve the prices they can realize for their crops.
To date, farmers who have participated in SAFOB have achieved not only
production increases of 50-100 percent but also premium pricing
consistent with quality gains. Those production and quality gains have
translated into dramatic improvements in farmer income and quality of
life.
Blommer Chocolate’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter Blommer,
noted, “As the largest cocoa bean processor in North America, Blommer
Chocolate is committed to directing our purchasing activity in ways that
support and expand the successful farmer field school initiatives
developed by the WCF. Working closely with Olam, our partner at origin,
we have created a sustainable system which incorporates farmer training
and quality incentives into the mainstream commercial supply chain.”
Kip Walk, Director of the Cocoa Department for Blommer,
further explained, “Many farmer sustainability models struggle with the
issue of scalability. The SAFOB program has added farmers at an average
of more than 700 per month since its start with commercial contracts
valued at more than $19 million dollars. The added support of regional
government offices has been instrumental to the process. This model has
proven its ability to grow and now, Blommer and Olam are pursuing
opportunities to introduce the system in other producing countries.”
As a result of the success of the SAFOB program, the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID) invited Blommer and
Olam to apply the SAFOB model to the USAID AMARTA program. A memorandum
of understanding was signed by the three parties in February 2007. This
multimillion dollar project plans to reach an additional 20,000 farmers
over the next two years, doubling the current number of farmers that the
SAFOB model has reached to date.
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