The Nestlé Cocoa Plan was launched in October 2009 in the Côte d’Ivoire, Africa. It is a prime example of Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value approach to business and involves investment of £67 million between 2010 and 2020, building on £37 million in the 15 years before the plan. The initiative aims to help cocoa farmers to run profitable farms, respect the environment, have a good quality of life and give their children a better education.
However, it also aims to ensure a sustainable and high quality supply of cocoa for Nestlé in the long-term. Some of the areas it focuses on to achieve this are: improved farmer training, buying from cooperatives and paying a premium, and working with certification programmes such as Fairtrade. This creates value through the supply chain, particularly for farmers and their families along the way.
The Cocoa Plan has become a key way in which Nestlé is tackling issues facing cocoa farmers as well as their families and communities. Nestlé sources most of its cocoa production from Côte d’Ivoire. Both the quality and quantity of cocoa supplies are in decline. The average cocoa farmer is over 55 years old and so the industry needs to consider where the next generation of cocoa farmers will come from. Many younger people in the region are leaving the countryside to work in cities. As a result there is a shortage of labour and skills. Ultimately, the aim is to raise the standard of living of cocoa farmers to ensure a new generation of cocoa farmers will take over and benefit