Shared Value in Côte D'Ivoire

As one of the world’s largest chocolate producers, Mars decided to develop a cocoa sustainability strategy to ensure a quality supply of cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire that will benefit both farmers and Mars.

During the first few months of the project, FSG conducted an extensive analysis of the economic, social, and environmental problems in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa sector. FSG consultants spent significant time on the ground meeting with farmers, the government, national agricultural institutions, multi- and bi-lateral donors, NGOs, traders, and exporters, and FSG interviewed over 50 cocoa experts globally. The team analyzed cocoa supply conditions and determined the interventions with the highest impact for Mars and other sector actors. From the beginning of the project, the FSG team has worked very closely with the Mars Sustainability team, thus creating a joint effort benefiting from deep technical as well as strategic expertise. Read more about the Mars, Incorporated: Coco