Ghana: Day Chocolate Company
Cocoa farmers are some of the poorest people in the world, earning less than $1 a day on average. A small group of cocoa farmers in Ghana realized that by working together they could improve their lives. In 1993, the farmers created their own co-operative business called "Kuapa Kokoo".
The motto of Kuapa Kokoo is "Pa Pa Paa" which means "the best of the best". Ghana is famous for producing high quality cocoa beans, and Kuapa Kokoo produces the best of Ghanaian cocoa beans!
In an innovative move, Kuapa Kokoo became one-third owners of a London-based Day chocolate company selling chocolate bars under the brand names Divine and Dubble. With support from Body Shop and Twin Towers social investors, Day became the first farmer-owned chocolate company in the U.K.
The cooperative's significant ownership in the company gives them some control over the company's brands. The brand names build a reputation for the Ghanaian cocoa products. This has protected the Kuapa Kokoo growers from price fluctuations in the world cocoa market and guaranteed that they will not be cut out of the opportunity to grow with the brand. Kuapa Kokoo cooperative now offers higher and more secure income to the farmers in the cooperative. Higher and stable export income also enables the cooperative to invest in community projects such as a farmer credit union and Mobile Health Clinics.
