Certified cocoa goals

The Hershey Company has announced that 18% of all the cocoa the company sourced in 2013 was certified, exceeding its original target of 10%. The company is on track to meet its goal of sourcing 100% certified cocoa by 2020.

“We are proud of our substantial progress in our first year of this important initiative to advance the well-being of cocoa-producing communities,” says Terence O’Day, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. “This is just one of many initiatives through local NGOs, national governments and development agencies to address child labor and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers around the world. These projects include leadership and economic training for women farmers, literacy, health and farm safety programs as well as the recent opening of a Hershey-supported primary school in western Ivory Coast.”

Independent auditors who follow recognized international standards for labor, environmental and sustainable farming practices, verify the certified cocoa used in Hershey products.

Hershey has also announced that its Scharffen Berger brand has reached its goal of sourcing 100% of its cocoa from certified farms.