The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) and Barry Callebaut:
-
Rural school will provide educational facilities and nutrition and
health support for more than 150 children
-
Cocoa farmers to receive training to raise family incomes
Addressing a critical community need in the western cocoa-growing region
of Côte d’Ivoire, The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) and Barry Callebaut
announced today the completion of a primary school, community and farmer
training center.
Located in the Abokro, Gabiadji, Bas-Sassandra region of Côte d’Ivoire,
the school and community center will be fully operational for the
2013-14 school year. Approximately 150 primary-school-age children from
24 nearby hamlets and villages are enrolled in the new school. The
project is a joint community partnership between Hershey and Barry
Callebaut.
The rural regions of Côte d’Ivoire suffer from a lack of modern primary
school buildings and the new Abokro school will address a long-standing
community development need. The Hershey Learn to Grow Abokro school
includes three furnished classrooms equipped with solar-powered lighting
fixtures, a solar-powered water well, an infirmary, a school canteen at
which subsidized meals will be offered, as well as housing for
professional teachers and medical staff. Barry Callebaut has previously
constructed a medical facility in Goh and the company processes large
volumes of cocoa at its nearby San Pedro facility.
Hershey Learn to Grow
The Hershey Learn to Grow initiative exemplifies Hershey’s commitment to
serving communities in cocoa growing regions. It modernizes cocoa
farming techniques, increases the yield of cocoa production, and thus
improves the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their families.
Hershey Learn to Grow features farmer and community projects in Côte
d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. In Côte d’Ivoire, the Hershey Learn to Grow
program will focus on primary education through the Abokro school
project, but will also include cocoa farmer training in partnership with
Barry Callebaut’s Cocoa Horizons program.
“This modern school will make primary education far more accessible for
the children of Abokro who today face many challenges,” said Mike Wege,
Hershey’s Senior Vice President Chief Growth and Marketing Officer.
“Through this innovative project, children will receive a meal at
midday, good medical care and instruction from professional teachers.
Both our companies are committed to giving back to cocoa communities and
the new Abokro school is a great example of what we can achieve
together.”
The Abokro primary school is a registered public school and its
operation will be managed by the Ministry of Education. The infirmary
will be staffed and operated by a professional health worker assigned by
the Ministry of Health. Barry Callebaut's local subsidiary SACO will
liaise, on behalf of Barry Callebaut and Hershey, with a school
committee regarding future development activities. The school committee
will be comprised of teachers and community members, including
representatives of the Cooperative Agricole de Glibeadji (COOPAGLI).
COOPAGLI, a cocoa-growing cooperative and beneficiary of the project, is
a member of the Union des Cooperatives Agricoles (UCAS) in Côte
d’Ivoire. The Cooperative consists of nearly 900 farmers, and is one of
20 co-ops in the UCAS union. The union has long been engaged in Barry
Callebaut’s Quality Partner Program and projects to improve the income
and livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
“The Abokro project is the result of a unique collaboration between
Hershey, Barry Callebaut and the farmers of COOPAGLI, and it illustrates
our holistic approach in working with cocoa farming communities under
the Cocoa Horizons framework,” said Paul De Petter, Vice President Cocoa
Africa at Barry Callebaut. “The project integrates agricultural
training, which gives farmers the knowledge to increase crops yields and
income, and it provides access to education, water and basic healthcare,
which improves the livelihoods of farmers and their families.”
Focus on Community
The Hershey Company has developed innovative sustainability programs in
West Africa, including its mobile phone program CocoaLink, which will be
launched in Côte d’Ivoire next month. These initiatives are part of
Hershey’s 21st Century Cocoa Sustainability Strategy, a
comprehensive plan to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and
communities dependent on cocoa. Through better agricultural practices,
West African farmers will realize greater crop yields that will increase
family income.
Cocoa Horizons is Barry Callebaut’s global initiative to ensure
sustainable cocoa production by working with farmers to enhance yields
and quality, training the next generation of cocoa farmers, and
improving access to clean water and basic healthcare for cocoa framers
and their families. Both companies believe the development of these
programs is essential for both the livelihoods of the cocoa farming
community and their families as well as business growth.
Barry Callebaut (www.barry-callebaut.com):
With annual sales of about CHF 4.8 billion (EUR 4.0 billion / USD 5.2
billion) in fiscal year 2011/12, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the
world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate
products – from sourcing and transforming cocoa beans to producing the
finest chocolate, including chocolate fillings, decorations and
compounds. Combined with the recently acquired cocoa ingredients
business from Petra Foods, Barry Callebaut generates estimated annual
sales of CHF 6 billion (EUR 4.9 billion / USD 6.4 billion), runs around
50 production facilities worldwide, sells its products in over 100
countries and employs a diverse and dedicated workforce of more than
8,000 people.
Barry Callebaut serves the entire food industry, from industrial food
manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate, such as
chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants or caterers. The
two global brands catering to the specific needs of these customers are
Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality
chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar
confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has
operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees.
With revenues of more than $6.6 billion, Hershey offers confectionery
products under more than 80 brand names, including such iconic brands as Hershey's,
Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss,
Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly
Rancher and Ice Breakers. The company is focused on growing
its presence in key international markets such as China, Mexico and
Brazil while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United
States and Canada.
For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making
a positive difference in the communities where its employees live, work
and do business. Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of
the company’s global business strategy, which includes goals and
priorities focused on fair and ethical business dealings, environmental
stewardship, fostering a desirable workplace for employees, and
positively impacting society and local communities. Milton Hershey
School, established in 1909 by the company's founder and funded by a
trust administered by Hershey Trust Company, provides a quality
education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social
and financial need. Students of Milton Hershey School are direct
beneficiaries of The Hershey Company's success.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130918005115/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2013