My hope for Cocoa Sisters is that it becomes more than just a chocolate brand. I want it to be a platform, one that uplifts the women growing our cocoa and shines a light on their brilliance, resilience, and ambition.

Gender inequality is something I’ve cared deeply about for as long as I can remember. I’m always looking for ways to make a meaningful impact and last September, that search took me all the way to the Solomon Islands.

When I was invited on a trade mission by the International Trade Centre, I had no idea it would change the course of my life. It was an opportunity to meet female cocoa farmers face-to-face, to listen and learn about the challenges they face and to figure out how I could help.

The first stop on our itinerary was Pilopaso Cocoa Farm, where I met Agnes, a quietly powerful force of a woman growing cocoa in her community. You could say the rest is history.

That encounter planted the seed for Cocoa Sisters.

Why Women?

In the cocoa industry, women carry out 70% of the labour, yet they receive just 20% of the income. That reality floored me and I knew I couldn’t ignore it.

I don’t claim I can fix the entire system on my own. But what I can do is use my voice, my choices, and my business to shine a light on women doing incredible things with very little recognition. By sourcing directly from female cocoa farmers, I can support them not just financially, but also by telling their stories and bringing more awareness to the imbalance that exists in chocolate’s supply chain.