Recognizing Pivotal Partnerships and Celebrating Leading Cocoa Experts and Artisanal Chocolatiers

ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire,  30 September 2022 -- The Hershey Company is proud to sponsor the National Chocolate & Cocoa Day celebrations in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from 30 September – 02 October 2022. The annual event, organized by the Conseil du Café-Cacao, Côte d’Ivoire’s regulatory authority for coffee and cocoa, is an important moment to honor the country’s cocoa farmers, raise national awareness about the cocoa sector and the important role it plays in Côte d’Ivoire’s economy, and showcase business opportunities for local processing of cocoa, including through artisanal chocolate making.

“Our partnerships in Côte d'Ivoire are some of the most pivotal in our global supply chain,” said Tricia Brannigan, Vice President, Chief Procurement Officer at The Hershey Company. “I’ve had the opportunity this week to meet with government leaders, our supply partners as well as development experts and cocoa-farming families in their communities. I couldn’t be prouder of the collaboration across these stakeholders, culminating in today’s event celebrating the cocoa sector and Côte d'Ivoire’s talented artisanal chocolatiers.”

The chocolate and snack maker’s presence at the celebrations in Abidjan concludes a week-long trip to Côte d’Ivoire by Hershey executives who met with partners, cocoa farmers and government leaders.  On 29 September 2022, Hershey donated more than a million servings of Grow Nut, a children’s nutritional supplement, to the Children of Africa Foundation, whose founding President is Côte d’Ivoire First Lady Dominique Ouattara.

“Multi-stakeholder collaboration is the key to continued progress in cocoa,” said Leigh Horner, Vice President of Global Sustainability at The Hershey Company. “In partnership with Côte d'Ivoire’s leadership, NGOs, peers in the cocoa sector and cocoa-growing communities, we aim to create long-lasting impact and mutual success.”

Through Cocoa For Good, Hershey’s sustainable cocoa strategy and its pledge to invest $500 million in these communities by 2030, the company is working with experts across the cocoa sector to create a meaningful impact in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. The strategy is designed to address systemic social and environmental challenges in cocoa communities and help to create a resilient future. Cocoa For Good programs and partnerships help to keep children in school, diversify and increase incomes, give farmers the support to build thriving businesses and protect forests.

Also on 30 September 2022, Hershey will show its support for raising public awareness about forest conservation in Côte d’Ivoire through a donation to refurbish the visitor centers at the Banco National Park in Abidjan. The event heralds a new partnership between Hershey and the Office of Ivorian Parks and Reserves (OIPR) The funding was made possible by Hershey’s Good to Give Back initiative – an annual month-long event focused on volunteerism by Hershey employees around the world.

About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 19,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 100 brand names in approximately 80 countries around the world that drive more than $8.9 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers, and fast-growing salty snacks including SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.

For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably.  Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed.

To learn more visit thehersheycompany.com.