One taste of chocolate can provide so much happiness.
But the process of growing cacao to deliver that happiness is often not good for nature or farmers. Increasing pressure on farming methods due to low payments for cacao has led to deforestation, poor soil quality, loss of biodiversity and a cycle of hardship for farming families. We believe in working with farmers to develop a better way: one that’s positive for nature and positive for farmers, helping both
to thrive.
As cacao farmers ourselves, running our own organic cacao farm in Saint Lucia, we have seen these cacao-growing challenges first-hand. Working with farmers and experts in both Ghana and Saint Lucia, we began our journey towards a better way 20 years ago, developing what we call gentle farming. And today we reinvest 10% of our annual profit into funding gentle farming initiatives, such as the provision of shade and high-yield cacao tree seedlings, on-farm pruning support and labour, and organic fertiliser workshops.
Now we’re introducing the Better Way Bar, so you can join us in our mission to drive positive change for nature and farmers through gentle cacao farming. 100% of Better Way Bar sales (excluding VAT) support the following gentle farming initiatives:
So, for your next moment of chocolate escapism, consider the journey your bar has been on. Choose a better way for chocolate, starting with the Better Way Bar.
We supply free shade tree seedlings to farmers who are part of our gentle farming programme in Ghana. This improves productivity because we know cacao thrives in the shade of other trees. It’s better for nature, too, because planting a more diverse range of trees and plants leads to regenerative agriculture and increased biodiversity.
Like with any plant, when you prune the deadweight, cacao grows stronger. We work with farmers to provide professional hands-on help and share knowledge on pruning practices. This helps them get the best possible cacao yield and boost productivity, leading to a higher income.
Shade tree seedlings
On our own cacao farm in Saint Lucia,
we have gained knowledge through our experience of using organic fertilisers. These fertilisers help the soil retain moisture and nutrients, for effective plant and tree growth, and are gentler on nature than chemical fertilisers. We are beginning to share this approach with farmers in Ghana, through organic fertiliser workshops.
Pruning
Organic fertiliser
One luxuriant filling, two chocolate grades to choose from. Try the Better Way Bar in milk or dark, available in-store or online.
For the Better Way Bar’s recipe, we take cacao from both Saint Lucia and Ghana and pair it with smooth hazelnut chocolate praline, pops of crispy biscuit and tart cherry pieces. Both the 50% milk and 70% dark bar are enrobed in chocolate made with cacao from Saint Lucia, home to our own cacao farm. Here we practise, learn about and evolve gentle farming methods. At the bar’s heart is praline made with cacao from Ghana, where we’re working with
2,500 farmers to integrate and evolve gentle farming.
One better way, two recipes
SHOP MILK
SHOP DARK
Naja Simeon
The vibrant packaging design is inspired by a mural that local artist Naja Simeon, of Sakey Productions, created for us at our Saint Lucian cacao farm. It depicts life at a thriving cacao farm, making it the perfect choice to illustrate the Better Way Bar.
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We began our better way journey 20 years ago, developing what we call gentle farming, and today we reinvest 10% of our annual profit into this.
Our journey towards nature-positive cacao farming
Launched our gentle farming initiatives in Ghana, working with 2,500 farmers to integrate and evolve gentle farming.
2021
In Ghana, we:
• Set up a 300-strong workforce to provide on-farm pruning support and labour.
• Distributed nearly 500,000 free shade tree seedlings, for optimum growing conditiona across 1,300 acres of farmland.
• Introduced a premium payment for cacao grown using gentle farming practices.
2022
Better Way Bar and beyond… There's a better way for chocolate. One that's positive for nature and positive for farmers. And 100% of the proceeds from Better Way Bar sales go towards funding this.
2023
Purchased our Saint Lucian cacao farm, where we practise, learn about and evolve gentle farming methods. ‘Engaged Ethics’ initiatives continue in Saint Lucia and Ghana.
2006-2020
Started working with Green Tropics Group to support communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana, where we source most of our cacao.
2002
Launched ‘Engaged Ethics’ – our ethics and sustainability initiatives, named for our commitment to engaging with every aspect of our cacao supply, from bean to bar.
2004
