Handcrafted Chocolate Industry Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast is the world’s biggest cocoa producer, and nearly six million people rely on the cocoa industry there. Most of them are small-scale farmers who sell their raw cocoa beans to larger foreign processors. These farmers are mostly excluded from the financial benefits of the chocolate industry, even though they play a vital role in its production. Without their hard work, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy this delicious treat. 

But in recent years, the handcrafted chocolate industry in Ivory Coast is booming, thanks to the country’s rich cocoa bean resources. Every year, hundreds of tonnes of cocoa beans are harvested and used to make a variety of chocolate products.

A new generation of Ivory Coast chocolatiers is working to change an industry that has long left cocoa farmers in poverty. Partly financed by the government and international aid agencies, the chocolatiers are turning cocoa beans into cocoa powder, beverages, chocolate bars, and other goods in Ivory Coast. By working directly with farmers and paying them fair prices for their beans, these chocolatiers are helping to create a sustainable industry that will benefit everyone involved. The goal is to develop a local chocolate industry whose revenue can flow directly to farmers and other cocoa workers, providing them with much-needed income and helping to create a sustainable industry that will benefit everyone involved.

While the cocoa consumption in West Africa is still significantly lower than in Europe – with Ivory Coast estimated at around one pound per person per year – it has been steadily rising due to increasing demand for cocoa-based products. Chocolate bars are generally more popular among foreigners, while West Africans have a preference for other confections such as cocoa pralines, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and chocolate spread. 

The future of the handcrafted chocolate industry in the Ivory Coast is very promising. The country has an abundance of resources that will allow it to continue producing high-quality chocolate products. With the right support, the industry will continue to grow, providing employment and economic opportunities for many people on Ivory Coast. The Ivorian government is working to promote more ventures like Choco+ that produce a variety of cocoa-based products, as well as bigger industrial companies that can help build a domestic chocolate industry. These initiatives will help to solidify Ivory Coast’s place as a major player in the global chocolate industry.